Jakarta. Chinese automakers are rapidly strengthening their presence in Indonesia’s automotive market, with wholesale vehicle sales surging 72% year-on-year during the first five months of 2026, industry data showed.

According to figures from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), Chinese car brands sold a combined 63,274 vehicles between January and May, significantly outpacing overall growth in Indonesia’s automotive market and highlighting rising consumer acceptance of Chinese-made vehicles.

Electric vehicle maker BYD recorded the strongest performance among Chinese brands, posting wholesale sales of 17,993 units during the period.

Jaecoo ranked second with 14,284 units sold, while Wuling placed third with 6,534 units.

The strong sales performance pushed both BYD and Jaecoo into Indonesia’s top 10 best-selling automotive brands this year. BYD ranked sixth overall, while Jaecoo placed seventh.

Combined, Chinese automotive brands accounted for around 17.6% of Indonesia’s total vehicle sales during the January-May period, driven largely by strong demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs), including battery electric vehicles.

Several Chinese manufacturers posted growth rates well above the broader market average. GAC Aion reported an 84% increase in sales compared with the same period last year, while Great Wall Motor (GWM) recorded nearly 200% growth.

The rapid expansion reflects increasingly aggressive investment by Chinese automakers in local assembly facilities in Indonesia, allowing them to improve price competitiveness while expanding market reach.

Beyond targeting domestic consumers, several manufacturers are also positioning Indonesia as an export production hub for regional and international markets.

Wuling has emerged as one of the leading examples, using its Indonesian manufacturing facilities to export vehicles to multiple countries.

Between January and May 2026, exports of Indonesia-assembled Wuling vehicles reached 1,188 units, including both completely built-up (CBU) vehicles and completely knocked down (CKD) components.