
Indonesia’s electric vehicle (EV) sector experienced a sharp 49 per cent year-to-date (YTD) growth through Q3 2025, contrasting significantly with a 11 per cent contraction in the country’s overall light vehicle (LV) market. These findings were highlighted in the PwC ASEAN-6 eReadiness 2025 report, which analyses consumer sentiment and market readiness across the region.
While the total industry volume (TIV) for light vehicles across the ASEAN-6 bloc remained relatively stable, dropping only 1.5 per cent overall, Indonesia’s automotive sector faced a significant downturn. This contraction was primarily driven by increased luxury vehicle taxes, reduced government expenditure, and a weakening rupiah, which collectively suppressed purchasing power amidst economic instability.
Also Read: Electrifying Southeast Asia: Unleashing the radical potential of electric vehicles
Despite the challenging environment for conventional vehicles, EV adoption in Indonesia reached 18 per cent of total vehicle sales, slightly exceeding the ASEAN average of 17 per cent.
Lukmanul Arsyad, PwC Indonesia Industrials and Services Leader, confirmed the divergent trends: “In the midst of the 11 per cent contraction in the Indonesian automotive market in YTD Q3 2025, electrification is moving in the opposite direction.” He added that the segment’s growth confirms a “significant opportunity for EV acceleration,” bolstered by tax incentives and battery investment, even as the conventional market is under pressure.
However, Indonesia’s 49 per cent EV growth rate trailed the overall ASEAN rise of 62 per cent. Regional counterparts displayed more aggressive electrification, with Thailand and Vietnam recording growth rates of 45 per cent and 84 per cent, respectively.
Furthermore, Vietnam and Singapore showed standout light vehicle growth, recording +18 per cent and +25 per cent respectively, supported by EV incentives, registration policies, and economic strengthening.
Consumer satisfaction and skepticism
Indonesian EV owners demonstrate high loyalty, with 99 per cent reporting satisfaction with their vehicles, marking the highest satisfaction rate across the ASEAN region (up from 93 per cent in PwC’s report last year). This satisfaction is broadly attributed to quicker charging times (50 per cent) and lower operational costs (47 per cent) across ASEAN users.
Also Read: How electric luxury cars are reshaping the industry
Despite this high satisfaction, 33 per cent of Indonesian EV owners are considering reverting to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The primary reasons cited for this potential reversal are higher-than-anticipated maintenance costs (71 per cent), driving experiences that did not meet expectations (61 per cent), and insufficient range (52 per cent).
For the 70 per cent of Indonesian respondents identified as EV prospects, price remains a critical barrier. Nearly half (48 per cent) of prospective users in ASEAN-6 expect prices to be under US$46,000, with 15 per cent specifically interested in the low-price segment starting below US$11,000. Sceptics, comprising 17 per cent of the Indonesian market, cited limited range (55 per cent), battery durability concerns (53 per cent), and charging time (42 per cent) as their primary concerns.
Infrastructure gap looms large
The PwC report assessed ASEAN nations on their EV readiness across metrics, including supply, demand, government incentives, and infrastructure availability. Indonesia showed progress, with its overall EV readiness score increasing to 2.8 (out of 5) in 2025, up from 2.0 the previous year.
The most significant improvement was recorded in the government incentive dimension, which jumped to 4.0, making Indonesia the country with the highest incentive score in the ASEAN-6 bloc. Furthermore, consumer demand remains robust, scoring 3.7.
However, the success of the transition is constrained by significant structural deficiencies, particularly in infrastructure. Indonesia’s infrastructure score stands at a low 1.4, significantly trailing Singapore’s score of 4.3. Supply chain readiness in Indonesia is also noted as relatively low at 2.3, below Vietnam’s score of 3.0.
Also Read: EV adoption in the Philippines gains momentum, but challenges in financing and technicalities remain
Arsyad concluded, “With a solid policy foundation and the highest incentives in ASEAN at 4.0, Indonesia has a significant opportunity to attract investment and accelerate the EV transition. However, success will depend on closing the infrastructure gap… as well as strengthening the supply chain. These structural gaps underscore the urgency of coordinated action to maintain momentum and secure Indonesia’s competitive position in the region.”
The post ASEAN’s EV race: Indonesia rises 49 per cent but lags behind Vietnam and Thailand appeared first on e27.





