PT Hartono Istana Teknologi (Polytron) is moving forward with its plans to enter the electric vehicle (EV) market. The Indonesian electronics company recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Skyworth Auto to establish a local EV production facility.

According to ChinaEVs, the agreement, signed in August last year, includes the development of manufacturing plants, joint product development, and local production of both hardware and software.

The collaboration aims to enhance the supply chain, reduce costs, and increase the competitiveness of EV products. Polytron is expected to develop electric vehicles tailored to the Indonesian market.

If successfully implemented, Polytron plans to manufacture 10,000 Skyworth-branded EVs over the next three years. Skyworth Auto executives have already visited Polytron’s factory in Krapyak, Central Java, to evaluate production capabilities.

When asked about the company’s EV plans, Polytron’s Head of Group Product Electric Vehicle, Ilman Fachrian Fadly, declined to provide details. "Regarding that, I cannot answer because Skyworth electric cars are not within my scope," he stated.

Polytron has previously expressed its interest in EV development. The company entered the market with the launch of its Fox-R electric motorcycle. Associate General Manager Joegianto confirmed the company’s long-term commitment to four-wheel EVs.

"I can’t say much, but we will definitely enter the four-wheeled EV market. There is no prototype yet, but this vehicle has been in R&D for about three years," he said in late 2023.

Skyworth Auto, a subsidiary of Skywell New Energy Automobile Group Limited, was founded in 2017. The brand was officially introduced in 2019, followed by the launch of its K Series electric vehicles in 2020. In 2022, the company expanded its lineup with a hybrid model.

Polytron, a subsidiary of the Djarum Group, has confirmed that its locally assembled EV will launch in 2025. “Maybe not a concept, because if it’s just a concept, when will it ever be realized? The car will come after Eid,” said Polytron’s Commercial Director, Tekno Wibowo, during an event in Jakarta (21/1/2025).

The company has also confirmed that its EVs will be produced domestically. However, further production details will be announced after Eid. "Our R&D team is collaborating with a foreign company. If you search on Google, you can find it. Currently, for EV development, the main reference is one particular country, where the entire industry is based. Yes, the Polytron EV will be locally assembled," Wibowo added.

CEO Polytron Hariono previously mentioned the company’s broader vision for EVs. "In the future, one of our business developments will be EVs. This includes everything, from passenger cars to commercial vehicles. Maybe development will start next year, or by the end of this year," he said in April 2024.

Hariono acknowledged that entering the EV market presents challenges, especially with competition from China, Europe, and Vietnam. He compared the adoption of EVs to the transition from CRT televisions to LCD screens, noting that the middle-to-upper market segment is more likely to embrace new technology.

"The market for cars is in the middle-to-upper segment. They are more open to technological changes and adopt them more quickly," he explained.

SOURCE: KUMPARAN | PHOTO: SKYWORTH AUTO

This article was created with AI assistance.