Campaign pushes Indonesian automakers to electrify trucks amid emission concerns

A new campaign, 'Janji Jangan Ngebul' (Promise Not to Smoke), has been introduced at the Indonesia Net Zero Summit 2026, aiming to push automotive manufacturers to prioritize the electrification of heavy commercial trucks. This initiative addresses the critical issue of emissions from the heavy vehicle sector, which has been largely overlooked despite government incentives for electric vehicles.

“

We want to ensure that the truck segment, which has a real environmental impact based on existing studies, also receives equal attention. We want to encourage awareness that manufacturers have the technical capability and capital to accelerate this transition.

Recent studies indicate that trucks, while making up only 4% of Indonesia's total vehicle population (over 6 million units), are responsible for a staggering 30% of total emissions from the transportation sector. This disproportionate impact underscores the urgency of transitioning these heavy-duty vehicles to cleaner alternatives. The 'Janji Jangan Ngebul' campaign seeks to mobilize automotive producers to take a leading role in this transition.

Rafaela Xaviera, Campaign Lead for 'Janji Jangan Ngebul', emphasized that decarbonization commitments should not be confined to passenger vehicles. "We want to ensure that the truck segment, which has a real environmental impact based on existing studies, also receives equal attention," she stated. Xaviera believes manufacturers possess the technical capability and capital to accelerate this shift, urging them to move beyond paper commitments.

“

Our dependence on imported fuel makes our economy and supply chain very vulnerable, even though trucks are the backbone of national logistics.

Globally, the viability of electric trucks has been proven, with significant adoption in China and Europe. In Indonesia, the primary challenges lie in supply-side readiness, charging infrastructure development, and the local component supply chain. Balqist Aroma Bunga, Project Lead for Just EV at Enter Nusantara, highlighted that electrifying the logistics sector is intrinsically linked to national economic and energy resilience. "Our dependence on imported fuel makes our economy and supply chain very vulnerable, even though trucks are the backbone of national logistics," Balqist explained, framing the transformation to electric trucks as a crucial energy security strategy.

“

The transformation to electric trucks is not just an environmental issue, but a strategy for energy resilience. Automotive manufacturers who keenly observe market dynamics should see this as a future business opportunity, not just a regulatory hurdle.

Kiara Putri Mulia, Climate Program Manager at the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), stressed the importance of including electric trucks in national electrification discussions. "We want to ensure that the conversation about EV transition in Indonesia does not stop at passenger vehicles," she said, emphasizing the crucial role of this forum in bringing the issue of electric trucks to the forefront.

“

Through the Indonesia Net Zero Summit 2026, we also want to ensure that the conversation about EV transition in Indonesia does not stop at passenger vehicles. Raising the issue of electric trucks in this forum is crucial so that...