Indonesia wants Tesla to manufacture cars in the country, not just EV batteries – president Joko Widodo

Indonesia wants Tesla to manufacture cars in the country, not just EV batteries – president Joko Widodo

Indonesia wants American electric car maker Tesla to make not just its batteries, but also its cars in the country, according to a Bloomberg report.

“What we want is the electric car, not the battery. For Tesla, we want them to build electric cars in Indonesia, [and] we want a huge ecosystem of electric cars,” president of Indonesia Joko Widodo said in an interview with the news outlet last week.

Widodo, more popularly known as Jokowi, had similar expectations from other automakers such as Ford, Toyota and Suzuki, according to Bloomberg, which the publication says is a signal of intent to seek investment to ensure that Indonesia is not left behind and relegated to being merely a supplier of raw materials or as a component maker in the wider, global electric vehicle supply chain.

Talks with Tesla are still ongoing, the Indonesian president told Bloomberg when asked what is holding back a deal with the EV maker. Everything needs time. I don’t want to be quick with no result; it needs intense communication and the result will show,” he said.

Indonesia wants Tesla to manufacture cars in the country, not just EV batteries – president Joko Widodo

Here’s a bit of background on the Tesla-Indonesia courtship – Tesla had initially put forth an investment proposal to Indonesia in the first quarter of last year, which itself followed talks between the American EV maker and the Indonesian government in November 2020. Plans for the Tesla factory fell through in March this year, before talks resumed the following month.

In May, head of the Indonesian investment coordinating board and minster of investment Bahlil Lahadalia reportedly said that Tesla had agreed to construct a battery and EV factory at an industrial complex in Central Java, and subsequently the country was reported to have proposed the Batang regency for Tesla’s EV plant that is slated to have an annual capacity of 500,000 units.

In the wider scope of courting investment in EV and battery manufacture, Indonesia has been actively growing its presence, signing a partnership with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn in January for the manufacture of batteries as well as vehicles.

Meanwhile, minister of investment Bahlil Lahadalia revealed last October that a proposal has been made to Volkswagen for the setting up of EV battery parts production in Indonesia, while the construction of Hyundai and LG battery plants commenced in September 2021 to be operational in 2024.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Maximum Security Penitentionary ..Alcatraz on Aug 22, 2022 at 8:06 pm

    What Jokowi has ? Hensem ? Good English ?
    From the photoshot…how we wish the politician is from our shore. But it only remains a distant dream.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 7
    • Ukrainball on Aug 23, 2022 at 1:11 am

      Want Hensem ? Good English ?
      That is a requirement for a salesman, not a country leader. Zelenskyy is not hensem and English is just as crap with every other Eastern European but he is leading his nation far better than Jokowi. PM Sabri is in the same caliber as Zelenskyy.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 8
      • Warlord on Aug 23, 2022 at 11:00 am

        same caliber? LMAO he cant do anything u know that

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
        • Rakyat Malaysia on Aug 23, 2022 at 12:54 pm

          Just coz he does not shout his achievements does not mean he didnt do anything. Pepatah diamdiam berisi
          https://paultan.org/2022/03/28/porsche-cayenne-ckd-first-unit-rolls-off-sime-darbys-assembly-facility-in-kulim-kedah-local-market-only/
          https://paultan.org/2022/07/21/samsung-sdi-breaks-ground-on-rm5-8-billion-battery-plant-in-seremban-malaysia-production-to-start-2024/
          https://paultan.org/2022/05/18/foxconn-to-set-up-a-chip-making-facility-in-malaysia-with-local-tech-firm-dnex-furthering-its-ev-ambitions/#comment-5126039

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
          • Diam2 berisi? Wrong dude.

            Diam2 blast wasap menantu at PMO official wasap.

            See it to believe. Greatest achievement.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Frozen on Aug 23, 2022 at 1:47 am

      Cool story bro,brrr

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • sloan on Aug 23, 2022 at 11:42 am

      jokowi can speak better english than our mail.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • newme on Aug 23, 2022 at 8:42 am

    Meanwhile, we are striving to host data centre and parts warehouse.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Like all other Elon’s moves (Twitter, Man Utd) it turns out to be nothing much. Jokowi is syiok sendiri getting himself high about attracting Tesla when what they really want is just their rare earth resources and perhaps a far enough place to make hazardous batteries on the cheap with lax safety regulations. With China Gigafactory barely scratch its capacity, why would Elon to come to that sh!thole. With that regards, Malaysia moving towards data centre hosting and regional spareparts hubs (if it goes thru) is a masterstroke genius. Peeps buy cars once in 5 years or so, but will need spareparts every year so the economic benefits are bigger than Tesla setting up an automated car factory with minimal staff creating fewer jobs.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 7
  • Meanwhile the story at the other side of the straits. “We just want money inflow, no matter did we get the products nor services.”

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • Rakyat Malaysia on Aug 23, 2022 at 12:55 pm

      Isnt that why Sinkiepore is the money laundering capital of Asia? And that is the country many nons have tell us to follow rite? Soooo…..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • Good money right? You think they care much for their marhaen? As long can give dedak, surely succumb to them.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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