Jakarta –
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, had the opportunity to try a cheap electric car, namely the Wuling Mini EV at the Wuling Motors (Wuling) factory located in Cikarang, West Java, Thursday (30/9). The signal for this car to be sold in Indonesia is getting stronger.
Coordinating Minister Luhut together with Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi, and Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited the Wuling factory yesterday. Their arrival is to support Wuling to enter the era of electrification of electric vehicles in the country.
After visiting the factory area, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Health tried the experience of driving a Wuling electric car in a limited area and was guided by the Vice President of Wuling Motors, Arif Pramadana. The Ministers tried two Wuling electric vehicles, the E100 and the Mini EV.
Although he has not stated clearly about Wuling’s plans to produce cheap electric cars in Indonesia, the President Director of Wuling Motors, Shi Guoyong, implied that Wuling has a strong commitment to develop an electric vehicle ecosystem in Indonesia.
“We are serious about bringing technology and also investing in entering the era of vehicle electrification. Of course, Wuling also needs support from the government to jointly develop the EV ecosystem in Indonesia,” said Guoyong, in his official statement.
In his presentation, Guoyong explained the future plans for the development of Wuling electric vehicles which are currently being marketed in China along with the various technologies owned by each line, starting from the E100, E200, E300, to Mini EV.
Especially the Mini EV has scored the number 1 achievement of electric vehicle sales in 2021 in China, with sales of 200,000 units (January-July 2021). The technology on the GSEV platform is said to be in accordance with the needs of the Indonesian market.
Previously reported, the principal of SAIC-GM-Wuling plans to launch several electric cars starting in 2022. Not only in China, the Wuling electric car will be launched in several countries, one of which is Indonesia. Wuling said it would introduce an electric car with a GSEV platform such as the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.
“Starting in 2022, we will launch several models built on the GSEV simultaneously in the Chinese and overseas markets,” said Shao Jie, an executive at SAIC-GM-Wuling, as quoted by Reuters. China Daily.
Shao did not inform which countries would sell tiny electric cars like the Wuling Mini EV. However, he said Wuling is scheduled to start producing electric cars with the GSEV platform in Indonesia starting at the end of 2022.
SAIC-GM-Wuling’s subsidiary in Indonesia also helped draft the NEV (new energy vehicle) industry standards and policies. This is because Indonesia is also accelerating its transition to the era of vehicle electrification.
“We will actively participate in the formulation of relevant NEV policies and industry standards. And we will share our experience in this segment with the Indonesian government to encourage local development of the segment,” Wuling said in a statement.
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