BUSINESS – Indonesia’s automotive market experienced a remarkable resurgence in May 2025, with national car sales soaring by 184.5% compared to the same period last year. According to CNBC Indonesia (11 June 2025), data from the Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) revealed that 101,706 vehicles were sold wholesale in May—significantly higher than the 35,940 units recorded in May 2024.
Among the standout performers, Honda emerged as a clear winner, registering a staggering 129% increase in sales from the previous month. The brand successfully sold 15,081 units in May, climbing to second place behind Toyota. In comparison, Honda had only sold 6,590 vehicles in April 2025. This performance reflects strong consumer interest, especially in models like the Honda Brio, WR-V, and BR-V.
An executive from Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) stated, “We are grateful for the positive response from the market. Our strategy to boost production and improve delivery has shown results,” citing both the acceleration in logistics and supply chain as key drivers behind their success. Toyota maintained its top position in the market with 29,665 units sold. Mitsubishi followed Honda in third place with 8,945 units, while Suzuki and Daihatsu secured fourth and fifth positions, selling 7,957 and 7,443 units respectively.
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In contrast, Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD suffered a dramatic decline. After recording 559 unit sales in April, BYD managed to sell only 30 vehicles in May—a 94.6% drop. The steep fall raises questions about market readiness for electric vehicles in Indonesia, despite earlier momentum.
Chery, another Chinese carmaker, also experienced a dip, selling only 235 units compared to 323 in the previous month. Conversely, Wuling managed to slightly increase its numbers to 1,207 units in May from 1,139 in April. Gaikindo attributes this sharp overall growth to a combination of improved production flows, recovering purchasing power, and easing global supply constraints. Moreover, the Eid al-Fitr holiday in April reportedly disrupted car purchases, causing pent-up demand to shift into May.
With the automotive sector rebounding robustly, manufacturers are now optimistic about meeting or surpassing their sales targets in 2025—an outlook that could further boost the national economy and investor confidence in the auto industry.
