Impact of Rising Diesel Prices, "Land Squid" Trend Begins to Fade

JAKARTA – The trend of diesel cars, which boomed in recent years, is beginning to show signs of decline. The increase in diesel prices is said to be weakening consumer interest, particularly in the used diesel SUV segment. Even the “cumi darat” trend is claimed to be decreasing, which had risen a few years ago. “Cumi darat” is a slang automotive term for diesel-engined vehicles modified to produce thick black smoke from the exhaust. This nickname became popular on social media (TikTok/Instagram) because the black smoke resembles the ink released by squid when threatened. Singgih, a used car dealer from Willies Mobil in Depok, West Java, said the “cumi darat” trend, previously synonymous with diesel cars, is now starting to fade. According to him, this change in trend is also affecting young people’s interest in diesel vehicles. “From that alone, I’m sure the interest in diesel cars has decreased, especially among young people who previously followed the FOMO trend of playing with diesel,” he said. He explained that before the diesel fuel price increase, diesel cars had become a favourite choice because they were considered fuel-efficient and suitable for daily use as well as lifestyle. “Before this increase, diesel cars were indeed on the rise. From what I’ve seen, many users come from the lower-middle class looking for Innova or Fortuner to turn into ‘cumi darat’ and consume Biosolar,” he stated. “If it’s the upper-middle class, they might use diesel more for comfort factors. People using Fortuner VRZ, for example, seek comfort,” he added. However, the current diesel price increase is said to be making consumers rethink maintaining diesel cars. The price of cheap subsidised Biosolar, or subsidised diesel sold by Pertamina. However, the use of diesel for modern Euro-4 engines is less suitable for the latest specifications.