Magelang – President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto inaugurated an electric commercial vehicle assembly plant owned by PT VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas Tbk in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday (April 9, 2026). The inauguration was marked by the sounding of a siren button pressed by the President, accompanied by President Commissioner Anindya Novyan Bakrie, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, and Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi.

“By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, this afternoon, Thursday, April 9, 2026, I, Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby inaugurate the VKTR electric commercial vehicle assembly plant,” the President said as he pressed the inauguration button.

Following the ceremony, President Prabowo signed the commemorative plaque.

Prior to the inauguration, President Prabowo inspected the VKTR electric vehicle assembly facility. Based on a live broadcast from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel monitored from Jakarta, the President, dressed in a safari suit, was seen accompanied by Anindya Novyan Bakrie—who also serves as CEO of PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk (BNBR)—and Vice President Director of BNBR, Anindra Ardiansyah Bakrie. Also accompanying the President were Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, and Minister Prasetyo Hadi.

Anindya Novyan Bakrie, commonly known as Anin, explained the production process at the facility, stating that the plant is targeted to produce up to 500 electric vehicles this year.

During the visit, President Prabowo inquired about the bus’s ability to navigate steep terrain. In response, Anin explained that the bus is capable of handling challenging gradients. The President then tried sitting in the passenger seat of the bus.

President Prabowo also reviewed spare parts and several other electric vehicles produced by VKTR, ranging from forklifts and commercial vans to trucks.

In his remarks, the Head of State expressed pride and appreciation for the initiative led by Anindya Novyan Bakrie, along with VKTR and the Bakrie Group, in establishing the electric vehicle assembly plant.

“I strongly welcome and appreciate this initiative, which has been undertaken over several years by Mr. Anindya Bakrie, his family, and his business group, who have continued to work with a clear vision—to contribute to Indonesia’s development and transformation, and to take part in the nation’s industrialization,” President Prabowo said.

The President emphasized that the inauguration marks a historic milestone in Indonesia’s energy transformation. He stated that Indonesia must reduce its dependence on fossil fuel-based energy and transition toward electricity.

“The initiative undertaken by VKTR is historic and represents a proud milestone. It is like a proverb we were taught—just when we need something, it arrives. This is exactly what we hope for from the sons and daughters of Indonesia. The country truly needs this. We must move away from carbon-based fossil energy and reserve it only for strategic uses,” he said.

“Today, I am very pleased and very proud that Indonesia now has the capability to produce electric buses and trucks. This is extremely important,” President Prabowo concluded.