Honda Responds to Prabowo's Push on BEVs, Discusses Market Readiness

Honda Prospect Motor has responded to President Prabowo Subianto’s push for accelerating battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Business Innovation and Marketing & Sales Director of PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM), Billy, stated that Honda globally has a long-term commitment to supporting carbon emission reductions, including through the development of electrified vehicles. “Honda has a global commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, both for products and company operations,” Billy told Kompas.com on Friday (20/3/2026). “We are implementing this commitment through various technologies developed and applied gradually according to consumer needs and ecosystem readiness in each market, including Indonesia,” he said. For the Indonesian market, Honda said it is continuously studying developments while coordinating with the principal to bring suitable products. “For Indonesia, we will continue to study market developments and communicate with the principal to present models that match the needs of consumers here,” Billy said. He added that in the near term, Honda still sees hybrid technology as part of the transition towards electrification. “Including strengthening the role of hybrid models as a transition step towards the electrification era,” he said. Nevertheless, Honda assured that it will still introduce electric vehicles in the future, with an approach tailored to the characteristics of the Indonesian market. Honda’s statement comes amid the government’s push to accelerate the adoption of battery-based electric vehicles in Indonesia. President Prabowo previously assessed that several automakers, especially from Japan, still appear cautious in promoting electric car development. He also emphasised the importance of building a national integrated electric vehicle industry, including utilising renewable energy such as solar power. “I want total electric. And the electricity from the sun,” he said. According to Prabowo, this step is part of a grand industrialisation strategy to increase the value added of natural resources while reducing energy import dependency.