The dream of an electric motor has hit reality: the story of a used motorcycle in Indonesia

The dream of an electric motor has hit reality: the story of a used motorcycle in Indonesia

Jakarta, 18 September 2025 – Riko Pratama still remembered his happiness when he was trying his first electric motorbike with a South Jakarta businessman last year. “The seller continues to say that I can save fuel costs and help,” remembering 28-year-old employees. “But, when the government subsidy disappeared, the price of the motorcycle is about to double the price of my Honda Beat.”

Riko’s story reflects a large shift that is happening in Indonesian motorcycle market. The ambitious electrification encouragement has become hitting an economic fact, making consumers heading to motorcycles.

If the policy meets the reality of the streets

Numbers indicate clear conditions. Electricxcle motorcycle sale put 70% since the government subsidy program is not clear in keeping this year. This data is obtained from Jakarta dealer reports, Surabaya and Medan.

“In the past we can sell 15-20 electric motors each month, now in many three or four,” said Budi Santos to a motorcycle seller in Kelapicle Dader. The showroom showing an attractive electric motor ahead, now it’s moved to a corner starting with dust.

The Indonesian Electric Motorscle Association Association (AISSOLI) warned in July with no subsidies, in 2025 it will continue to experience contractions. Proved their predictions, Reales dropped 30% of the third quarter.

But subsidies are not just the problem. Andi Wijaya, a coordination of logistics that bought an electric motor in 2024, knowing that the promise of charging infrastructure does not agree with reality. “I live in Bekasi and work at Central Jakarta. Find a charging station that really works? It’s very difficult,” he complained. Now she went back to ride a used Yamaha Nmax in 2019.

Chinese reasons rarely mentioned

Perhaps the most harmful consumer trust is to know that the “local” motor industry in Indonesia depends on Chinese components. Even motorcycles that gather here often used batteries, driving motors, and control systems made by Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces.

“When my electric motormike should improve after six months, spare parts require three weeks coming from China,” said Sara Dewi, a teacher from allers. “My old scoopy? I can get extra parts from any store on the same day.”

This trust has become more trouble when Rupiah is weak against the yuan. Parts can be more expensive, and consumers know how turbulent supply chains.

Gasoline motion is not cheap

However, consumers to return to fuel motorcycles facing other problems. The new motorcycle sale fell 2.7% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Indonesian motorcycle industry says the reason is inflation and an increase in raw material costs.

“The new vario where two years later cost 20 million Rupiah, almost 24 million,” said Indra Kusuma, a motorcycle analyst. “For many people, new motorcycles are not cheap.”

Indonesian motorcycle market as a whole shrinkage 18.5% to $ 2.9 billion in 2024, showing a wider economic pressure on consumer buying power.

Where is the flow of smart money

These two conditions, the high cost of electricities without subsidies and the price of new motorcycles, making an unexpected winner: the used motor market.

Market research shows that Indonesian motorcycle used to reach $ 17.04 billion in 2032. One of the drivers who seeks motorcycles with uncertainty.

“I have purchased the PCX by 2020 with a distance of 8,000 miles of 23 million Rupiah,” said Maya Sari, Jakarta resident. “If you buy a new one, the price is 35 million. The calculation is too easy.”

But buying a used motorcycle in Indonesia has a risk too. Fraud always occurred on platforms such as OLX and Facebook market, while traditional dealers often raise prices about car history.

Digital solutions start out

Seeing this gap, many Indonesian starts develop a platform intended to transport transparency and equal to used motorcycle transactions.

One of them, MOFE, launched an online auction system “Fast Tawar” specifically to overcome the problem with the price transparency. This platform permits sellers to receive competitions from authenticated dealers, so prices earned more agree to the market.

“The old manner of buying a used motorcycle is chaos,” as the MOFE market developer team. “Buyers don’t know if they are deceived, the seller does not know the original motorcycle value, and everyone is wasting time without interruption.”

The company reported it can process over 1,000 vehicle transactions per month by their authenticated dealer network. However, they face competition from old players such as OLX and new people who imitate similar auction models.

The opinion of market members

“What we see is not only happening in Indonesia,” said Dr. Rizki Hemayani, Indonesian university industry researcher. “The market will always return to technology proved if the new fails to carry out its promises.”

He pointed a similar pattern to other countries in Southeast Asia where adopting electric vehicles stopped because of limited infrastructure and changes in subsidized policies.

“The drainage of used motorcycle market has made an economic meaning,” Dr. added Handayani. “Consumers tried technology at a lower price while avoiding recession with new car values.”

Looking forward

Today, Indonesian motor market seems to settle new conditions. Electric Motormikes became special items for those who have home charging solutions, new fuel motorcycles are very expensive for many people, and used motorcycle markets growing.

If it is only a temporary change or permanent transition depends on the factors out of control of any company, such as government policy conditions, and broader economic conditions.

But for consumers like Riko Pratama, it is clear to choose. He recently sold his electric motormike by an online platform and purchased the aerox in 2021 maintained. “Sometimes the future is not ready for us,” he fell. “And that’s okay. There is no harm to choose what works exactly.”