Jakarta (ANTARA) - Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji has urged Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) to increase vehicle exports and expand domestic battery electric vehicle (BEV) production.
The minister also urged TMMIN to explore manufacturing double-cab pickup trucks domestically to strengthen the national automotive industry.
Sarmuji made the remarks during a meeting with company executives in Jakarta on Tuesday to discuss vehicle production, export targets, and industry growth.
"We have asked Toyota to increase vehicle exports from Indonesia, both by expanding its model lineup and the number of destination countries," Sarmuji told reporters after the meeting.
He cited Australia as a key potential market for Indonesian-built vehicles, noting that geographical proximity and existing trade agreements offer strong export advantages.
However, Sarmuji pointed out that neighboring countries currently supply a significant share of vehicles to the Australian market.
He encouraged the Japanese automaker to manufacture double-cab pickup trucks in Indonesia to capture Australian market demand.
Sarmuji noted that the government stands ready to optimize the domestic automotive regulatory framework to support local double-cab pickup truck production.
"If improvements to the double-cab vehicle ecosystem are needed, we can also work on that," he said.
Beyond export growth, Sarmuji urged the automaker to accelerate its BEV manufacturing roadmap.
He commended Toyota for producing hybrid vehicles and operating a local hybrid battery plant that exports components internationally.
However, he emphasized that the government expects the automaker to take further steps in full battery electric vehicle assembly.
"Why? Because our battery ecosystem is already highly advanced. The government is also paying considerable attention to the battery ecosystem," Sarmuji said.
He praised TMMIN's economic contribution, noting that the subsidiary directly employs roughly 8,000 workers while supporting approximately 360,000 jobs across its supply chain and dealer network.
TMMIN President Director Nandi Julyanto said the company has begun assembling the bZ4X electric vehicle locally and is preparing additional BEV models tailored to domestic consumer demand.
"We are already producing the bZ4X in Indonesia. We are also preparing to introduce other BEV models in the future that will suit the Indonesian market," Julyanto said.
Julyanto added that the company remains committed to expanding export volumes, broadening its vehicle lineup, and entering new export destinations.
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Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Katriana
Editor: Arie Novarina
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