Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Hozon Auto plans to assemble its Neta-branded vehicles in Indonesia from 2024, according to media reports in China.

Zhejiang-based Hozon signed an agreement earlier this month with local contract assembler Handal Indonesia Motor which has an assembly plant in Bekasi near Jakarta.

Handal Indonesia already assembles Chery vehicles and, until recently, also for Hyundai which now operates its own plant.

The company was scheduled to begin assembly of Hozon cars in the second quarter of 2024 from completely knocked down (CKD) kits imported from China.

Hozon will display at this year’s Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show which will be open to the public for 10 days from 10 August at the Indonesia Convention Centre just outside Jakarta.

Wang Chengjie, vice-president of Neta’s overseas operations, said in a statement: “We believe Indonesia has great potential to accept electric cars as vehicles to support daily mobility activities because they are proven to be effective and environmentally friendly."

Hozon already sells Neta in Thailand where it is building its own assembly plant scheduled to start operations next year, and also in Malaysia.