BISNIS – The Indonesian car market is becoming increasingly crowded with the arrival of a new Chinese brand, Changan Automobile. In Indonesia, the brand is brought in by Indomobil Group, one of the country’s largest automotive conglomerates known as an authorized distributor of various international vehicle brands.
Changan Indonesia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Setiawan Surya said the partnership with Indomobil Group represents a strategic step to strengthen Changan’s position in Indonesia. Indomobil will handle distribution, after-sales services, and future local production plans. This partnership is part of a long-term commitment to deliver sustainable mobility solutions and support the acceleration of Indonesia’s national electrification program.
Changan’s factory in Chongqing, China, is claimed to be the world’s first automotive facility equipped with a full 5G network and artificial intelligence (AI) system. The 770,000-square-meter plant has an annual production capacity of around 280,000 units and focuses on digital efficiency, battery manufacturing, and vehicle assembly.
In Indonesia, Changan will make its debut at the Gaikindo Jakarta Auto Week (GJAW) 2025, held from November 21 to 30, 2025, at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), BSD City, Tangerang, Banten. The company plans to launch two new models — a city car and a premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) — expected to be the Changan Deepal S07 and Changan Lumin.
Changan will face tough competition, as Indonesia’s automotive market is already occupied by several Chinese brands such as BYD, Wuling, Chery, Geely, and XPeng. BYD is currently building an electric vehicle factory in Subang, West Java, with an annual capacity of around 150,000 units, scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. The brand markets several models, including the BYD Sealion 7, BYD M6, BYD Atto 3, BYD Atto 1, BYD Seal, and BYD Dolphin.
Chery also has several popular models in the local market, such as the Chery J6, Chery E5 EV, and Tiggo 8 CSH, which are assembled at PT Handal Indonesia Motor (HIM) in Bekasi, West Java. Meanwhile, Wuling continues to strengthen its electric vehicle lineup with products such as the Wuling Air EV, Binguo EV, and Cloud EV, which are assembled in Cikarang, West Java.
Based on September 2025 sales data, Chery led the list of top-selling Chinese car brands with 2,105 units. It was followed by Wuling with 1,339 units and BYD with 1,088 units. Meanwhile, Aion recorded 554 units, Denza 227 units, GWM 213 units, Jaecoo 202 units, Morris Garage (MG) 159 units, Geely 144 units, and XPeng 91 units.
The entry of Changan reflects Indonesia’s growing openness to Chinese automotive brands and signals intensifying competition in the electric and hybrid vehicle segments. Its presence is expected to trigger new strategies from existing players in the national market. (*)
