The Indonesian automotive industry in early 2025 experienced interesting changes. Car sales in general have indeed decreased compared to last year, but electric cars have shown quite rapid growth. This is a sign that the trend of environmentally friendly vehicles is increasingly being accepted by the public.

Based on data from Gaikindo (Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries), total car sales from January to March 2025 were recorded at 205,160 units. This figure is down around 4.7% compared to the first quarter of 2024. One of the main causes is economic pressure on the middle class, which has weakened purchasing power somewhat.

But surprisingly, electric cars are actually the ones that are increasingly popular. Their sales have surpassed hybrid cars for the first time in Indonesia. Electric cars sold around 16,000 units, while hybrids only sold 15,000 units. In addition to the increasing number of model choices, government incentives have also made electric cars more affordable.

Chinese manufacturer BYD has stolen the spotlight by immediately becoming a dominant player in the national electric car market. They managed to sell more than 8,200 units in just the first three months of 2025. Their three flagship models, namely BYD Dolphin, Atto 3, and Seal, have become new favorites among consumers who want sophisticated and energy-efficient cars.

Although electric cars are on the rise, conventional cars still dominate the total market. Toyota still leads with the highest sales, namely 68,955 units, followed by Daihatsu with 34,999 units, and Honda in third place with 22,336 units. However, in general, sales of gasoline and diesel cars have indeed decreased slightly compared to last year.

Now, if we talk about the best-selling cars in the first quarter of 2025, the top five list is still dominated by family cars that have been popular for a long time. In first place is the Toyota Kijang Innova with 5,353 units, followed by the Toyota Avanza (5,069 units), Daihatsu Sigra (4,309 units), Honda Brio (4,000 units), and Toyota Calya (2,639 units).

It can be said that many Indonesians still choose cars that are practical and suitable for families. But with the trend of electric cars continuing to rise, it is not impossible that in the future the list of best-selling cars will start to be filled by electric vehicles too. Especially if the battery charging infrastructure is more evenly distributed.

In the future, challenges and opportunities will continue to coexist in the automotive industry. The decline in conventional car sales could be an alarm, but the growth of electric cars is a positive signal. What is clear is that 2025 has just begun, and the next quarter could bring new surprises.