National Car Sales Rise 12 Percent, Astra Group Slows Down

JAKARTA - National car sales from January to April 2026 showed positive growth. According to data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), total domestic car sales reached 289,787 units, up 12 percent compared to the same period last year. However, this growth has not been fully enjoyed by the Astra Group. In the first four months of 2026, Astra’s car sales were recorded at 143,365 units, rising by around 4 percent year-on-year compared to the same period in 2025. Breaking it down, Astra’s largest contribution still came from Toyota and Lexus, with total sales of 86,574 units during January-April 2026. Meanwhile, Daihatsu contributed 48,280 units, followed by Isuzu with 8,250 units and UD Trucks with 261 units. Head of Corporate Communications at Astra, Windy Riswantyo, stated that Astra’s sales growth was supported by increased demand for commercial vehicles and contributions from new hybrid models. “Astra’s vehicle sales growth in the January to April 2026 period was supported by increased sales in the commercial vehicle segment, particularly from our flagship Daihatsu Gran Max model, which supports consumer mobility and business activities,” Windy said in her statement on Monday (11/5/2026). “In addition, the Toyota Veloz Hybrid, launched at the end of last year and deliveries to consumers starting in February 2026, also contributed to sales growth,” she added. Despite still dominating the market, Astra’s market share is now at 49 percent. This figure is down from the same period last year, which was around 51-56 percent. On the other hand, non-Astra brands are showing greater aggressiveness. One of the most notable is BYD and Denza, with combined sales of 19,247 units during January-April 2026. The combined sales of these two Chinese brands even surpassed Hyundai, Wuling, and Chery in the same period. Besides BYD, Mitsubishi also recorded a fairly stable performance with sales of 35,367 units. Suzuki also showed a significant increase, particularly in February 2026, reaching 9,659 units. The data indicates that competition in the national automotive market is shifting towards the electrification segment. This is evident from the rising sales of Chinese brands such as BYD and Denza.