VinFast Eases Consumer Concerns Over Electric Vehicle Ownership

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Rockford Pojono, founder and host of LugNutz Auto, said prospective electric vehicle users face many concerns, ranging from usage, maintenance and vehicle safety. They also grapple with questions of savings or efficiency in using electric cars.

“So then when I use an electric car, is charging it easy? Are charging stations available everywhere? Perhaps later, using an electric car, charging becomes difficult, charging takes long — instead of being quick, it becomes a hassle,” he said during VIN TALKS, “The New Economics of Mobility: Why Ownership Value Matters”, at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2026 on Monday (3/8/2026).

According to him, consumers initially chose electric cars for emotional reasons. They were drawn to the new technology, its features and the vehicle’s performance.

However, as time went on, increasingly affordable electric products became available. This opened up new perspectives for prospective electric vehicle users.

“People buy electric cars no longer just for the performance or the features, but more about how this car can make my daily life easier,” Rockford explained.

At the same event, automotive observer Yannes Martinus Pasaribu said consumers, dominated by the middle class, consider operating costs and the savings from using electric vehicles.

“Someone who previously used petrol or diesel, then switches to an electric vehicle — how much do they save?” he said.

Beyond that, consumers also weigh the advantages of electric cars, such as the number of charging stations, and even consider resale value.

“The image that has formed around electric cars so far is that once you buy one, its resale price drops sharply and there is no guarantee anyone will want to buy it,” he explained.

According to Sukimin Thio, Commercial and Marketing Leader at Nikon Indonesia, such considerations are perfectly reasonable. This is because buying a car is a medium- to long-term commitment of three to five years.

“We must first convince ourselves that the car we are going to buy — well, it’s no longer just about providing the car, but afterwards, what about the after-sales service, what about the charging,” he said.

He emphasised that the ecosystem provided by a brand is an important factor before purchasing an electric car. This ecosystem includes servicing as well as public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU).

Building a Sense of Security for Electric Vehicle Users

In response to the concerns of prospective electric vehicle consumers, VinFast introduced its “Drive Worry Free” concept along with a range of comprehensive services for customers. These services are designed to make customers feel more at ease and comfortable while owning an electric vehicle, while also reinforcing the company’s commitment to always putting customers first.

Rinaldi Ramdani, Head of the Training Department at VinFast Indonesia, said the “Drive Worry Free” concept offers several pillars, such as Zero Operating Cost, in which users can recharge their electric vehicle’s battery for free until March 2029.

“So this zero operating cost, of course with the charging stations we own and which are already spread across Indonesia, we can bring this down even to near zero rupiah,” Rinaldi said.

Then there is Battery Peace of Mind through the battery subscription programme. With battery subscription, consumers have two options: buying the vehicle with the battery included, or buying the vehicle with a rented battery.

There are several advantages to the battery subscription, including a cheaper purchase price for the electric car and highly economical battery rental costs.

“We have a battery subscription programme that makes electric vehicle ownership easier, so customers no longer need to worry about battery maintenance — we even provide free battery subscription for two years,” he explained.

Next is Ownership Confidence. With more than 3,200 V-GREEN network charging points across Indonesia, and with more still being added, anxiety over battery charging is no longer an issue. Then there is Service Confidence through 40 dealers nationally and more than 100 after-sales points in Indonesia.

Finally, Business Confidence through the rent-to-earn programme, allowing people to use rental vehicles as a source of income.

“So we see that interest in electric vehicles is quite high, but we need to accompany our customers throughout their journey. That’s why we want to make things easier, we want to make our customers feel at ease and not have to think about any costs other than driving their vehicle,” Rinaldi concluded.