The electric commercial vehicle market in Indonesia is beginning to show signs of growth, with Chinese automotive manufacturer Foton targeting further growth in 2026 as it expands its dealer network amid demand for cost-effective business vehicles.

Indomobil Foton's Marketing Department Head, Adhiguna Wibowo, stated that more than 40% of Foton's sales came from the eTruckmate.

"We estimate sales of 400-500 units by the end of the year," said Adhiguna.

Electric commercial vehicles are starting to attract business owners

According to Adhiguna, the challenge for electric commercial vehicles extends beyond technology to building consumer trust. Businesses need to consider the purchase price, operating costs and long-term benefits of electric vehicles. Foton said electric commercial vehicles could offer lower operating costs despite their relatively higher initial purchase prices.

"It's true that the initial costs are large, but in the long term, operational cost efficiency is very economical," he said.

Foton dealer network continues to expand

Foton is expanding its sales and after-sales service network. It has outlets in Pasar Minggu, Jakarta, and Surabaya through the Indomobil Group, as well as in Bali through an independent dealer. This year, Foton is targeting additional dealerships in Batam and Medan, followed by a network in Balikpapan in 2027. It is also developing an electric vehicle ecosystem, including charging infrastructure, to support electric commercial vehicles used by businesses.

Range of vans and electric trucks

Foton offers a range of electric vehicles for passenger and light commercial use, including trucks. The eView is a large-capacity electric van capable of carrying up to 15-16 passengers and is designed for travel, school shuttles and corporate fleets.

The eView Connect is an electric blind van for urban goods distribution and logistics, while the eTunland is an electric 4x4 double-cab pickup aimed at semi-industrial, mining and plantation applications. The eTruckmate is an electric truck designed for urban distribution and last-mile delivery and has been used by PT Pos Indonesia. The eMiler is a light electric truck with an automatic transmission and air conditioning for logistics operations. The eAumark features a flexible chassis suitable for various bodywork applications, including refrigerated boxes, dump trucks and water trucks.

Local content reaches 36.25%

Foton has been present in Indonesia since 2007. After resuming its focus on the four-wheeled vehicle business in 2024, it continued its localisation strategy through vehicle production using the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) scheme.

By 2025, Foton's local content level (TKDN) had reached 36.25% for several electric commercial vehicles, including the eTruckmate, eMiler and eAumark. The expansion of the dealer network, increased local content and development of charging infrastructure form part of Foton's strategy to expand its electric commercial vehicle operations in Indonesia.