Report to Mr. Prabowo! Honda Boss Says MBG is Boosting Motorcycle Sales
Motorcycle sales in early 2026 are showing signs of improvement. The Director of Marketing at PT Astra Honda Motor (AHM/Honda), Octavianus Dwi Putro, acknowledged that several factors are driving this increase, one of which is the increased circulation of money in the community due to government programs.
He explained that this increase in sales is also reflected in consumer purchasing patterns, with consumers starting to add a second or third vehicle to their household. Typically, after owning an entry-level motorcycle like the Beat, consumers begin to consider other models in different segments.
“If they already have a Beat at home, what is the next motorcycle they usually buy? A Supra, PCX, or Stylo,” he said during an AHM iftar event, as quoted on Thursday (February 26, 2026).
Although the increase in sales is not significant, Octavianus said that the trend remains positive when viewed from the perspective of daily sales. Sales have also increased compared to the same period last year. Thomas mentioned that wholesale growth is in the range of 2% to 3%, while retail sales are even higher.
“It’s a bit, but the increase is quite significant, with wholesale around 2% to 3%. Retail is more than that,” he explained.
He believes that one of the factors driving the market improvement is the increased circulation of money in the community. Octavianus openly stated that government programs, including the MBG program, have contributed to purchasing power.
“If we’re being honest, one of the factors is the impact of the MBG. The amount of money in circulation has increased,” he said.
In addition, the economy in several commodity-based regions remains relatively strong. This is reflected in the stable contribution of sales in Sumatra and Kalimantan. On the other hand, the recovery of the manufacturing sector in Java is also helping to boost the two-wheeled vehicle market.
The situation in several industrial areas, such as Central Java, which had previously been affected by layoffs in the textile and garment sectors.
“In the past, many factories closed, for example, in the textile or garment industry. Thousands of employees were laid off. Now, some are starting to recover,” he said.
The improvement in the industrial sector is also reflected in the national manufacturing activity indicator, which has returned to the expansion zone.
“The PMI index is now above 50 again. Last year, in the fourth quarter, it was around 46-47,” said Thomas.
In the future, AHM will also continue to monitor several other government policies that have the potential to influence economic developments in the regions, including plans to strengthen village cooperatives and procurement programs at the local level.
“We’ll just wait and see how it plays out. The government certainly has good intentions, but we’ll have to wait and see how it’s implemented,” he said.