IndonesianTalk.com — SUNRA Commissioner Welcomes Prabowo’s National Electric Motorcycle Initiative
President Prabowo Subianto officially launched Indonesia’s National Electric Motorcycle, known as Molinas, along with its supporting ecosystem at ALVA’s production facility in Cikarang, Bekasi regency, West Java, on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, marking another major push by the government to accelerate the country’s transition toward electric mobility.
The launch is expected to expand access to more affordable and higher-quality transportation while strengthening domestic industry, technological capabilities, energy security and national value creation.
During the launch, Prabowo said the government would seek to lower financing rates for electric vehicles and introduce schemes that could allow consumers to purchase electric motorcycles without a down payment.
“We will lower installment interest rates for the people. We will also try to make purchases possible without a down payment,” Prabowo said.
According to the President, switching from conventional gasoline-powered motorcycles to electric models could reduce daily transportation expenses by at least 50 percent, with potential savings reaching 70 percent.
The government is also preparing a trade-in scheme for people seeking to replace their gasoline-powered motorcycles with electric models.
Industry welcomes Molinas
The initiative has received a positive response from players in the electric motorcycle and electric bicycle industries.
Ismeth Wibowo, commissioner of PT Sunra Asia Pacific Hi-Tech, a subsidiary of China-based Jiangsu Xinri E-Vehicle Co. Ltd., welcomed the launch, saying the national electric motorcycle program could provide fresh momentum for Indonesia’s electric vehicle industry.
“We support the launch of the National Electric Motorcycle [Molinas]. We hope this initiative will encourage the electric vehicle industry to continuously improve its performance and contribute to economic growth,” Ismeth said.
He added that wider adoption of electric motorcycles could help Indonesia reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and, consequently, lower fuel imports.
“The presence of a national electric motorcycle could reduce domestic fuel consumption as well as fuel imports, which Indonesia still relies on today,” he said.
Indonesia’s enormous motorcycle market, Ismeth noted, represents a significant opportunity for electric vehicle manufacturers and investors. The country currently has around 140 million gasoline-powered motorcycles on its roads.
“This is a major attraction for investors in electric motorcycles and electric bicycles,” he said.
Molinas would also give Indonesian consumers more options as the electric vehicle market expands, he added.
“Once again, we welcome the presence of the national electric motorcycle. We hope it will be well received by the public, as consumers will have an increasingly diverse range of choices,” Ismeth said.
Zero down payment could accelerate adoption
Ismeth also welcomed the government’s plan to provide lower financing rates and potentially introduce a zero-down-payment scheme for electric motorcycles.
“We strongly support a zero-percent down payment policy and affordable installment plans for consumers. This would greatly help Indonesian consumers,” he said.
He expressed appreciation for government policies that have supported the development of the domestic electric vehicle industry.
“We have benefited from various policies introduced by the government. We will support the government’s efforts to build a strong national electric vehicle ecosystem,” Ismeth said.
SUNRA itself has been developing partnerships aimed at making electric motorcycles and bicycles more accessible to Indonesian consumers.
The company has cooperated with Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) to provide installment facilities for purchases of electric motorcycles and electric bicycles using BNI credit cards.
SUNRA has also established a strategic partnership with GOECO to develop a battery-swapping ecosystem.
“Through this collaboration, SUNRA electric motorcycles will use GOECO’s standardized battery-swapping system, which is integrated with the Vehicle Control Unit [VCU] and compatible with GOECO’s digital platform,” Ismeth said.
The partnership is particularly aimed at helping ride-hailing drivers switch to environmentally friendly vehicles without having to shoulder a large upfront investment.
Under the scheme, SUNRA motorcycles can be offered through a rental model, allowing drivers to use the vehicles without purchasing them outright at the beginning. Drivers may eventually own the motorcycles after completing a specified rental period.
SUNRA motorcycles will also be connected to GOECO’s smart battery-swapping stations. The batteries use automotive-grade technology featuring LG 21700 NCM cells, which offer high energy density and stable performance.
“This collaboration represents a concrete step by both companies to accelerate the transition toward a more environmentally friendly and efficient transportation ecosystem,” Ismeth said.
Longer loan tenors
Beyond lower interest rates and a possible zero-down-payment scheme, the government is also seeking to offer longer financing tenors for purchases of domestically produced electric motorcycles.
Danantara Indonesia CEO Rosan Perkasa Roeslani said banks and financial institutions under Danantara, including state-owned lenders grouped under the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara), were ready to support the Molinas program.
“We at Danantara have spoken with all banks and financial institutions under Danantara, and we are ready to provide support,” Rosan said during the launch.
“Our banks are prepared to provide financing at lower interest rates and with longer repayment periods,” he added.
Such financing measures could prove crucial in narrowing the price gap between electric and conventional motorcycles and encouraging more consumers to make the switch.
Rosan also said that around 10 Indonesian companies had met the domestic content requirement, or TKDN, set by the Industry Ministry to participate in the production of Molinas.
“Approximately 10 national companies have met the TKDN requirements established by the Industry Ministry,” Rosan said.
He added that the companies would work together under a coordinated framework involving state-owned electronics company LEN and Prof. Sigit.
The launch of Molinas comes as Indonesia seeks to develop a more integrated domestic electric vehicle industry, covering vehicle manufacturing, batteries, charging and swapping infrastructure, financing and other supporting services.
For industry players such as SUNRA, the government’s latest push could also expand opportunities for collaboration between manufacturers, financial institutions, technology providers and transportation platforms.
With Indonesia already home to one of the world’s largest motorcycle markets, the transition from gasoline-powered motorcycles to electric alternatives could play a significant role not only in reshaping urban mobility but also in reducing fuel consumption and strengthening the country’s emerging electric vehicle ecosystem.
