Prabowo Asks Professors: Why Can't Indonesia Make Its Own Car After 81 Years?

President Prabowo Subianto is urging academics to be more active in generating innovations for the nation’s progress. He then questioned why Indonesia has not yet been able to achieve national self-sufficiency. This was conveyed by Prabowo at the National Gathering of the 2026 Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) at the JCC, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (26/6/2026). Prabowo initially spoke about his frequent visits to university campuses to discuss various national strategic issues. “Ladies and gentlemen, that is why I repeatedly come to campuses. I come and ask the smartest people. Ask Mr Brian, ask Professor Sigit, I ask IPB professors, why can’t we have our own wheat seeds? Why must we import wheat?” said Prabowo. In addition, Prabowo questioned the productivity of Indonesian palm oil, which he considers still lagging behind Malaysia. He then touched on the national automotive industry. “I asked, why is palm oil productivity per hectare in Malaysia higher than ours? Why? I always ask them. Why, after 81 years, can’t Indonesia make its own car?” he said. Prabowo stressed that these questions were directed at academics who possess high scientific capacity to find solutions to the nation’s various problems. “I stand before you. You who have PhDs. Why don’t we have, we buy 10 million motorcycles every year, why is there no Indonesian-made factory?” he continued. Nevertheless, Prabowo appreciated the steps taken by several universities that are beginning to contribute to the development of the national automotive industry. He is optimistic that Indonesia is starting to move towards the capability of producing its own cars. “But I thank the campuses, I thank you, we are starting to move towards having our own car. Thank you. I felt a deep satisfaction in my heart when I was inaugurated. I returned from the inauguration and I could ride in an Indonesian-made car,” he said.