Chinese new energy vehicles used for transit service at G20 summit

At the 17th Group of 20 (G20) Summit, on the streets of Bali, Indonesia, distinctively painted new energy vehicles were frequently seen shuttling between airports, hotels and venues. 300 of these vehicles were provided by SAIC General Motors Wuling Motor Indonesia.

Wuling Air EVs were the official transit service vehicles for delegates and staff members at the G20 Summit. The transition to sustainable energy has been one of the three main issues raised during Indonesia’s G20 Presidency this year.

Wuling Air EVs are pictured at a hotel in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 15, 2022. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

SAIC General Motors Wuling Motor Indonesia, a local subsidiary owned by major Chinese automobile manufacturer SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) in Indonesia, rolled out an NEV model named Wuling Air EV at its production base in Bekasi City in August this year, according to the company. Since then, orders for more than 4,500 Wuling Air EVs have been made, ranking first in the sales of new energy vehicles in Indonesia, and accounting for 85 percent of the market share.

SGMW, a joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors, is based in Liuzhou, Guangxi.

In 2017, with a total investment of 1 billion U.S. dollars, SGMW's manufacturing base in Bekasi, in Indonesia’s West Java Province, was put into operation. With an area of 60 hectares, it has now been developed into an auto industrial park featuring a complete auto industrial chain, and has created over 10,000 jobs for local people.

The Indonesian government has set a new target of cutting carbon emission levels by 31.89 percent on its own or 43.2 percent with international support by 2030. The new energy automobile industry is not only a new growth point cultivated by China-Indonesia cooperation in green development, but also an important part of Indonesia’s green economy transformation.

Shi Guoyong, general manager of SAIC General Motors Wuling Motor Indonesia, said that Indonesia’s population, resources and geographical advantages have brought huge dividends to the development of the new energy vehicle industry. The participation of Chinese enterprises is not only conducive to driving the upstream and downstream industries, but also creates new industries like charging, maintenance services, automobile modification, and recycling of used electrical vehicles and batteries.

Wuling Air EVs are pictured at a hotel in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 15, 2022. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

“I’m surprised with the performance of this car. It’s small and comfortable,” Indonesia’s Secretary of the Ministry of State Secretariat, Setya Utama, told People’s Daily. He believes that SGMW is fully committed to bringing EV technology to Indonesia. “I see the potential for high development and there is much enthusiasm for Wuling Air Evs now, not only in Jakarta but in other small cities.”

Wuling Air EVs are pictured at a hotel in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 15, 2022. (People’s Daily Online/Zhong Wenxing)

Wuling Air EVs. (People’s Daily /Li Qiang)

Wuling Air EVs. (People’s Daily/Li Qiang)