Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has announced a goal for Indonesia to begin mass-producing its national electric vehicle (EV) by 2028.

In a televised address last month, Prabowo said that the government is developing an EV "ecosystem" in the province of Subang, West Java. The initiative is intended to increase domestic EV production and support a shift from petrol-powered vehicles to EVs.

"The success of a nation in the modern era is defined by its level of mastery of science and technology and by its ability to leverage technology to sustain its life," he said.

The President called on the Indonesian public to cooperate in achieving his administration's EV goals. He said that shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy would increase Indonesia's energy independence and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

In June, the government announced that it had secured a 60-hectare plot in Subang for the first phase of its production facility. The first phase is planned to have an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles. The planned development will cover up to 539 hectares and is expected to increase annual production capacity to 300,000 vehicles.

"We are developing an Indonesian electric car that we hope will enter mass production by 2028 at the latest," the President said.

The national EV project has not yet been fully launched, while Pindad has been identified as a participant in the project.

In his televised address, Prabowo also announced that the government had been preparing financial schemes and incentives to support the shift to EVs. Last month, the government announced a new financial incentive policy that will prioritise local EV brands in the market.

Although details have not yet been announced, Esther Sri Astuti, executive director of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), said that the policy will "stimulate growth" for the local industry.