Cikarang. President Prabowo Subianto said on Thursday that Indonesia's government-backed national electric car is expected to enter mass production by 2028 at a planned manufacturing facility in West Java.

Prabowo announced the target while launching Molinas, a national electric motorcycle initiative, at an electric motorcycle production facility in Cikarang, West Java, as his administration pushes for greater domestic production and adoption of electric vehicles.

"We have an electric car ecosystem in Subang, not far from here. We are developing an Indonesian electric car that we hope will enter mass production by 2028 at the latest," Prabowo said in the televised address.

The government has yet to formally launch the national electric car project, but preliminary plans have identified state-owned defense manufacturer PT Pindad to lead its development in collaboration with other state-owned companies.

The government has prepared about 60 hectares of land in Subang for a production facility expected to have an annual capacity of around 50,000 vehicles.

Prabowo said the global transition toward electric vehicles was becoming inevitable and Indonesia needed to prepare its automotive industry accordingly.

"In major cities around the world, there are already carbon taxes and restrictions on gasoline-powered motorcycles. This should serve as a warning to those who still choose gasoline motorcycles," he said.

The president also promised measures to make electric motorcycles more affordable, including low-interest financing and zero down payments, as the government seeks to accelerate their adoption.

"If people still choose gasoline motorcycles later, they will have to accept the consequences," Prabowo said. "We have calculated that electric motorcycles cost 50% less to operate than gasoline motorcycles."

The Molinas initiative is being launched using the Cikarang manufacturing facilities of Ilectra Motor Group, the company behind the ALVA electric motorcycle brand.

The initiative is intended to go beyond basic vehicle assembly by developing a more comprehensive domestic supply chain for electric motorcycles and their components.

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