Foreigners Increasingly Favour Indonesian-Made Cars
Jakarta, VIVA – The beginning of 2026 has proven a rather encouraging opening for Indonesia’s automotive industry, particularly on the export front. Indonesian-made cars are increasingly sought after in overseas markets, as evidenced by a significant rise in shipments during the first month of the year.
According to the latest data from the Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), total exports of fully built-up (CBU) vehicles in January 2026 reached 40,003 units. This figure represents an increase of approximately 19.7 per cent compared to January the previous year, with an additional 6,580 units shipped.
Toyota remains the dominant player in vehicle exports from Indonesia. Throughout January, the manufacturer dispatched 11,581 units to various countries, accounting for roughly 29 per cent of total CBU exports.
In second place, Daihatsu also recorded a strong performance with exports of 10,793 units — an increase of approximately 14.7 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.
Mitsubishi Motors came in third with total exports of 9,436 units. Notably, its growth was the most pronounced, surging by approximately 70 per cent compared to January the previous year.
Beyond fully assembled vehicles, shipments in completely knocked-down (CKD) form also soared. In January 2026, CKD exports reached 6,036 sets, more than doubling the 3,015 sets recorded in January 2025.
In this category, Mitsubishi Motors was the most dominant, shipping 3,644 sets overseas — meaning more than half of Indonesia’s CKD exports came from the manufacturer.
Automotive component exports were equally robust. Throughout January, total components shipped to global markets reached approximately 12.4 million pieces, representing a rise of around 70.1 per cent compared to the previous year.
Toyota was once again the largest contributor in this sector, with export volumes reaching 11.3 million component pieces — an increase of approximately 77.4 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.
The rise in export figures at the start of the year signals that Indonesian-made automotive products remain competitive in the international market. With quality continuing to improve and destination markets expanding, this positive trend is expected to continue throughout 2026.