▍Indonesia: Leading ASEAN in sales, physical showrooms and dealer networks are crucial

According to statistics from the ASEAN Automotive Federation (AAF), from January to September 2024, Indonesia sold a total of 633,218 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 16.2%, ranking first in ASEAN. This is followed by Malaysia with sales of 594,037 units, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%. Thailand ranks third with sales of 438,303 units, a year-on-year decrease of 25.3%. The Philippines follows closely with sales of 344,307 units, a year-on-year increase of 9.4%. Vietnam sold 225,583 units, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%, while Singapore sold 37,988 units.

Recently, a consumer survey conducted by MarkPlus, an Indonesian marketing strategy consulting firm, found that the main obstacle to purchasing a new car in Indonesia is the high price. In the survey, 56% of consumers believed that the price of new cars continued to rise, exceeding their purchasing power. 50% of consumers reported that the taxes imposed were too high. Meanwhile, 37% of respondents faced heavy leasing rates, and 26% preferred used cars at the same price. This highlights the importance of improving the affordability and value of the new car market to attract consumer interest.

In 2024, new car prices in Indonesia have increased by 37% compared to 2014, but household incomes have only grown by 28% during the same period. This price increase has limited consumers' purchasing power. Additionally, the study found that in the electric vehicle (BEV) sector, the Chinese brand Wuling leads with a 47% market share.

Research on consumer habits has revealed that most Indonesian consumers still prefer online research and offline purchases, indicating that automakers and dealers need to develop an omnichannel strategy to enhance the consumer experience. Therefore, search engine optimization (SEO), the use of social media, and websites with in-depth product information will help attract consumer interest in the early stages of the purchasing process. Additionally, electric vehicle buyers prefer activities such as test drives before purchasing, emphasizing the importance of showrooms and dealer network construction.

▍Thailand: BYD registers over 20,000 vehicles in the first 10 months, and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand expands EV charging stations

Recently, Ke Yubin, General Manager of BYD Auto (Thailand), won the 8th "2024 Thai Headlines Person of the Year Award." Organized by Thai Headlines Group Public Company Limited, this is the largest annual social event to honor outstanding individuals in various fields. The award ceremony is known as Thailand's Oscar.

Ke Yubin stated that in the first 10 months of 2024, BYD registered 23,513 electric vehicles, demonstrating BYD's vision to create consumer-friendly automotive products and product innovation. Additionally, BYD will continue to develop new technologies that meet the needs of Thai consumers to drive the development of the Thai automotive industry.

To gain a prominent position in the electric vehicle charging market, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) announced a significant expansion of electric vehicle charging stations. It plans to add 110 new charging stations this year and another 100 in 2025.

▍Malaysia: Chery launches locally assembled electric vehicles, and XPeng ranks fourth among the best-selling electric vehicles

According to foreign media reports, Chery Auto Malaysia rolled off the production line of its first completely knocked-down (CKD) model, the OMODA E5, at the Inokom factory. This is the first fully electric vehicle assembled by Chery in the Malaysian market. Leo Chen, President of Chery Auto Malaysia, said that assembling cars locally not only provides more competitive prices but also marks Chery's long-term commitment to Malaysia, promoting local employment creation and skill development among the workforce.

Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), said that as of the end of September 2024, a total of 32,543 pure electric vehicles were registered in Malaysia, 98% of which were imported in a completely built-up (CBU) form. Previously, only Volvo and Mercedes-Benz assembled electric vehicles locally. Now, Chery has become another brand assembling electric vehicles in Malaysia, marking an important step forward in local electric vehicle production.

Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Malaysia's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), recently stated that with the government actively promoting local assembly (CKD) projects for electric vehicles, Malaysia's electric vehicle market is expected to become more affordable, with prices potentially falling below RM100,000 (approximately RMB 160,000).

The latest sales data shows that in October, XPeng sold 119 G6 vehicles in Malaysia, successfully surpassing competitors such as Tesla Model Y and BMW iX2 to become the fourth best-selling electric vehicle in Malaysia. The more affordable price of the G6 has made it a popular choice for many local consumers.

▍Singapore: Car sales increased by nearly 30% year-on-year in September, with electric vehicles accounting for one-third of registrations

Statistics from Singapore's Department of Statistics show that retail sales increased by 2% year-on-year in September, with car sales experiencing the largest year-on-year increase at 29.6%, setting a record growth rate for the year. According to Ministry of Transport officials, from January to September 2024, electric vehicle registrations accounted for one-third of new car registrations in Singapore, indicating a rapid increase in electric vehicle adoption.

With the increasing use of electric vehicles, the government aims to provide as much convenience as possible for electric vehicle users. Singapore is working towards its goal of installing 60,000 charging stations in public and private places by 2030. Currently, one-fourth of this target has been achieved. As of September, there were over 15,300 charging stations in the region, an increase of about 1,500 from the number announced in August. Among them, over 7,100 are located at public charging points.

Typesetting 丨 Zheng Li

Source 丨 Gaikindo.or.id, Autolifethailand.tv, Autobuzz.my, Zaobao

Image Source 丨 Phototock