"We want people to use electric cars, but we also want to build the industry here," said the Director General of Metal, Machine, Transportation Equipment and Electronics Industries, Ministry of Industry, Harjanto, here on Friday.
The Ministry of Industry's target was the development of electric cars in Indonesia gradually, which would slowly reduce the use of gasoline-fuelled vehicles.
"According to the road map, we are targeting 20 per cent electric car usage in Indonesia in 2025, but if the demand is higher than that, we will increase it," he stated.
According to him, the domestic automotive industry should target producing 20 per cent of the electric vehicles that would be in use.
Since batteries were crucial to electric vehicles, companies making them should be set up in Indonesia to avoid imports.
Harjanto pointed that electric cars were expected to force out gasoline-driven vehicles just as the four-stroke engine had gradually eliminated the use of the two-stroke motor.
"Well, this is a consumer role. We will provide incentives in the form of Sales Tax on Luxury Goods," he said.
Meanwhile, the TMMIN President Director, Warih Andang Tjahjono, revealed that Toyota was ready to support the government in building an electric car industry in the country.
Reported by Sella Panduarsa Gareta
(T.KR-TQA/INE)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/B/H-YH)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
