Subang, West Java. Electric vehicle makers BYD and VinFast are hiring thousands of workers in West Java, with about half of new recruits coming from the province, local officials said.

Data from regional authorities show that about 50% of employees hired by the two companies originate from cities and regencies across the province, signaling early economic benefits from Indonesia’s push to build an EV manufacturing hub.

At BYD, a total of 299 workers have been recruited from Subang, followed by 220 from Karawang, 144 from Bekasi, and 112 from Purwakarta. Additional hires came from Bandung (91), Cirebon (75), Indramayu (63), Kuningan (50), Majalengka (28), and Bogor (19). Meanwhile, 937 workers were recruited from outside West Java, reflecting the company’s broader national hiring pool.

Similarly, VinFast has drawn a significant share of its workforce from the province, including 317 workers from Subang, 84 from Karawang, 63 from Bekasi, and 51 from Purwakarta. Other recruits came from Bandung (32), Cirebon (23), Indramayu (22), Tegal (14), Kuningan (13), and Bogor (13).

Rona Mairansyah, head of the Subang Manpower and Transmigration Office, said the strong presence of local workers is a positive signal for regional economic growth, even as companies continue to rely on skilled workers from outside the province.

“Nearly 50% of employees come from West Java. This is good news as industry begins to absorb local labor,” Rona said on Wednesday.

The hiring momentum comes as both companies ramp up their manufacturing footprint in Subang, a key node in Indonesia’s emerging EV supply chain.

BYD’s factory in Subang is scheduled to begin operations and produce its first vehicles this year. The facility, currently in its final construction stage, is undergoing operational testing and machine calibration. With an investment of Rp 11.2 trillion ($700 million) and spanning 108 hectares, the plant is designed to produce up to 150,000 electric vehicles annually and is expected to create more than 18,000 jobs.

Its proximity to Patimban Port is also seen as a strategic advantage, enabling more efficient export logistics to global markets.

Meanwhile, VinFast officially inaugurated its first EV manufacturing plant in Indonesia on Dec. 15, 2025, after completing construction in just 17 months. The facility, located in Padaasih village, Cibogo district, represents an initial investment of Rp 4.8 trillion ($300 million) and has an annual production capacity of 50,000 units. The plant is targeted to reach full operations in 2026 and is expected to absorb thousands of local workers.

Despite the positive employment trend, Rona said many strategic and technical roles are still filled by workers from outside the region, particularly those with specialized expertise or foreign language skills such as Mandarin.

Local authorities aim to increase the share of skilled positions filled by West Java residents as demand for technical talent rises alongside the EV industry’s expansion.

“Starting this year, demand for technical skills is quite high. We hope more of these roles can be filled by local workers through improved training and competency development,” Rona added.

The government has stepped up vocational training programs to better prepare the workforce for emerging industrial needs, particularly in the fast-growing EV sector, as Indonesia seeks to position itself as a regional EV production hub.