Stellantis' Citroen plans to assemble of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Indonesia later this year as sales of zero emission vehicles grow.
According to local reports, citing Rachmat Kaimuddin, a senior official at the Indonesian coordinating ministry for investment affairs, Citroen would join a growing number of global automakers to announce BEV production in Indonesia.
Total sales reached 17,000 units last year, according to local automotive industry association Gaikindo.
Kaimuddin said Citroen planned to launch local assembly in July by contracting an unnamed local assembler.
Late in 2022. the automaker named Indomobil Group as local distributor but sales across its dozen sales outlets located mainly on Java have been very slow so far.
The company sells C3, C4 and C5 models imported fully assembled from its Indian joint venture plus the battery powered E-C3.
Kaimuddin said local assembly would be “mainly focused on making its vehicles available for the local market. If there is sufficient demand, then perhaps Citroen would build its own plant in Indonesia”.
Sister company Peugeot sells the 2008, 3008 and 5008 models in Indonesia through Astra International. These are imported mainly built up from Malaysia with sales last year of just 200 units, according to the association.
