Prabowo Pushes Electric Motorcycle Transition: 'If You Still Use a Petrol Bike, Feel the Consequences'

President Prabowo Subianto is encouraging the public to switch to electric motorcycles and abandon fossil fuel-powered bikes. He stated that the government will provide various facilities, both fiscal and in terms of financing, to make it easier for people to transition to electric motorcycles. “So, if anyone still uses a petrol bike later, they’ll feel the consequences themselves,” Prabowo said during the launch of the National Electric Motorcycle (Molinas) and its supporting ecosystem at the PT Ilectra Motor Group (ALVA) production facility in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Thursday (13/8/2026).

Prabowo explained that several facilities are being prepared, such as lowering the interest rates on instalment plans for electric motorcycle ownership. In addition, the government is also working to provide a down payment (DP) waiver facility for such financing. Prabowo hopes the public can benefit from using electric motorcycles. According to him, the shift from petrol-powered motorcycles can save people’s daily expenses. “We calculate that using an electric motorcycle compared to a petrol motorcycle saves at least 50 percent in expenditure. It can even reach 70 percent,” Prabowo revealed.

During the Molinas launch ceremony, Prabowo was accompanied by his cabinet ministers and representatives from the business sector, particularly entrepreneurs who have mass-produced electric motorcycles. On stage, those accompanying the President included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM and CEO of Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Commissioner of PT Indika Energy Arsjad Rasjid. From the stage, Prabowo also called up several other business figures to join him, including Hapsoro Sukmonohadi and Wisnu Wardhana. The President then pressed a siren button to symbolise the launch of the national electric motorcycle and its supporting ecosystem, before shaking hands one by one with the business figures on his right side.

In his speech, Prabowo praised the courage of private sector players, especially those willing to take the risk of producing electric motorcycles amidst fierce competition from Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean-made electric bikes. For the President, the entrepreneurs’ move is part of a joint effort to build Indonesia, which he often refers to as Indonesia Incorporated. “Indeed, brother Arsjad, brother Wisnu, Indika, you are taking risks, you are facing extraordinary competition from great nations, Japan, Korea, China, and yet, you are still brave,” said President Prabowo, commending the entrepreneurs’ initiative.