The Storm Will Surely Pass
Not everyone feels comfortable in a zone of certainty. Some find energy when facing something new, untested, and full of risk. Purbaja Pantja belongs to this group.
Throughout his career, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PT Ilectra Motor Group (IMG) has never stayed too long in his comfort zone. While many choose stable paths, he is drawn to exploring new challenges that force continuous learning. Purbaja Pantja spent much of his career in the financial world, spanning over two decades in investment, private equity, investment banking, and global banking, as well as venturing into the property sector.
Armed with cross-sector experience, Purbaja has learned to view business from a different perspective: not merely running a company, but assessing opportunities and building value from investments. This led him to join PT Indika Energy T/bk, eventually helming PT IMG, an Indika subsidiary that produces electric motorcycles under the Alva brand. Under Purbaja’s leadership, Alva has successfully introduced various electric motorcycle models with a Domestic Component Level (TKDN) of over 60%.
Alva has also established a modern manufacturing facility in Cikarang that has secured various international certifications, including ISO 9001 (quality management system) and ISO 14001 (environmental management system). Furthermore, Alva became the first premium electric motorcycle brand in Indonesia to achieve the Indonesia Industry 4.0 Readiness Index (INDI 4.0) certification from the Ministry of Industry. Additionally, the Alva Cervo X and Alva Cervost Q models have obtained EU Certification and were recognised as one of the best providers of two-wheeled electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU) by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
For Purbaja Pantja, building something from scratch holds a unique appeal. There is no blueprint to copy and no guarantee of success. “That is precisely where the challenge lies,” said the father of two.
When the idea for building a local electric motorcycle emerged, Purbaja saw an opportunity greater than just business. It was a chance for Indonesia to possess a national automotive brand born from a deep understanding of its own people’s needs. This conviction is well-founded; Indonesia is one of the largest motorcycle markets in the world. “However, until now, not many national automotive brands have been able to become masters in their own country,” Purbaja noted.
His career path has not always been smooth. He has faced setbacks, failures, and missed opportunities, even reaching a point where he had to face the reality of being affected by corporate restructuring. These experiences led him to question many things, but over time, Purbaja realised that failure is not the end of the journey. Problems can be overcome with persistence, resilience, patience, and optimism.
He treats every problem as a learning vehicle. “Storms will surely come, but storms will also surely pass. The most important thing is how one learns from every mistake and does not repeat them,” he asserted.
This perspective shapes his leadership style. Purbaja does not believe in the concept of a single great individual saving an organisation. “Success is always born from the cooperation of many people,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, Purbaja has his own definition of success. For this executive, success is not about position, personal achievement, or material wealth. “Success is when the knowledge, experience, and passion one possesses can be passed on to others so that the organisation continues to grow and develop,” he concluded.
His life philosophy is simple: gratitude and sharing. Gratitude allows one to see life with a clearer perspective, while sharing ensures that the benefits felt do not stop with oneself. As CEO, Purbaja strives to bring this philosophy into the company. He aims to build an organisation that does not depend on a single figure, but is inhabited by many people growing and moving together towards a greater future.
Regarding the origins of PT IMG (Alva), Purbaja explained that while Alva can be called a startup, it differs from most startups identified with an individual founder. Alva was an initiative of PT Indika Energy Tbk as part of the company’s effort to build new, sustainable businesses. While the public has known Alva since its product launch in August 2022, the process began much earlier. The company was established in 2021, with various studies and preparations conducted approximately five years prior. The decision was driven by two factors: Indika’s desire to expand its business portfolio into more sustainable sectors, and the recognition that Indonesia needs a strong local player in the then-nascent electric motorcycle industry.