Online Motorbike Taxi Association Requests Fuel Subsidy Redirected to Electric Motorcycles
The Association of Online Motorbike Taxi Drivers (Garda Indonesia) has requested that the government redirect part of the fuel subsidy to electric motorcycles to support efficiency. This step is a recommendation for saving fuel amid the Middle East war that has triggered a surge in global oil prices.
Garda Indonesia General Chairman Raden Igun Wicaksono stated that the government needs to conduct a comprehensive study on redirecting part of the fuel subsidy to subsidies for purchasing electric motorcycles for online motorbike taxi drivers. “Accompanied by the provision of affordable financing facilities for the petrol motorcycle exchange programme,” he said in a written statement on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.
According to Igun, the online motorbike taxi ecosystem has become a main pillar in the supply chain for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as efficient passenger transport. With an estimated 7 million online motorbike taxi drivers across Indonesia, redirecting the fuel subsidy to electric motorcycles is considered a strategic and targeted step to reduce reliance on fuel imports.
The association has asked the government to immediately study and implement this policy. “Including a low-interest credit financing scheme for online motorbike taxi drivers,” he said.
This recommendation was conveyed amid the government’s plans for savings through work-from-home (WFH) policies. Previously, Igun stated that based on the association’s calculations, the WFH policy could reduce income from ride-hailing, or passenger delivery services, by around 10-30 percent. Nevertheless, it is predicted there will be an increase from food and goods delivery sides.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto stated that the government would implement efficiency measures to anticipate the impact of the war in the Middle East. One of them is the WFH regulation that will apply after Eid for civil servants as well as encouragement for the private sector.
The WFH policy will only apply for one day per week. He added that the government will also coordinate with the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure effective implementation.
Working from home is an efficiency measure implemented by the government to anticipate the impact of the Middle East war which has caused a surge in global oil prices in recent times. The government views fuel savings as necessary in this situation.