Prabowo uses Maung as a show of support for local products

President Prabowo Subianto has stated that the government is setting a concrete example in supporting the use of local products, including through the tactical vehicle, Maung. Speaking at the 18th National Conference of HIPMI in 2026, monitored via the Presidential Secretariat broadcast in Jakarta on Wednesday, President Prabowo said this is being done as part of efforts to build the national automotive industry, which has begun to show results. According to him, the Indonesian Military (TNI) now uses domestically produced tactical vehicles. He also admitted to using nationally produced vehicles in his daily activities as President. “We have started pioneering; now the TNI uses jeeps made by Indonesia’s own sons and daughters. Your President, I now use cars made by the Indonesian people themselves,” said President Prabowo. President Prabowo assessed that the use of domestic products by state officials is a form of support for the development of national industry while encouraging public confidence in the capabilities of the nation’s children. However, President Prabowo acknowledged that the national automotive industry is still in the early stages of development and thus requires time to continue improving the quality and competitiveness of its products. “Being something new, it may not be as good as if I used a BMW or Mercedes, right. If Mr. Ara (Maruarar Sirait) uses a Mercedes maybe, I can’t anymore. I use the Maung,” he said. President Prabowo stressed that his choice to use a national vehicle is not merely a technical consideration but a form of commitment to encourage the independence of Indonesian industry. “Like it or not, because I am president, I must set an example; I must use cars made by Indonesian children,” concluded President Prabowo.