Localization push

Wang, Wuling's deputy general manager, said the company is also working to localize its supply chain. More than 40 percent of the components for its three EV models are produced locally.

The company is working with Indonesia's national electricity utility, Perusahaan Listrik Negara, and other partners to build 1,000 public alternating current charging stations across Indonesia. A total of 100 direct current charging stations are also expected to be completed this year in Indonesia's major cities and along highways.

Indonesia and 14 other Asian countries including India, Thailand and Japan, along with many former British colonial countries such as Australia and New Zealand, have right-hand drive vehicles that travel on the left side of the road.

"In the future, we will turn Indonesia into a global right-hand drive vehicle base for Wuling and continue to launch competitive products to cover the major right-hand drive markets in Southeast Asia and around the world," said Wang.

In 2023, Wuling manufactured and exported over 1,500 new energy vehicles from Indonesia.

Besides Indonesia, Chinese EV companies have been actively expanding to Southeast Asian markets to increase their local presence.

Leonardus Jegho is a freelance journalist for China Daily.