Danis Dwi Rochman, a sales executive for BYD, said that brand was becoming popular in Indonesia. He said BYD maker was considering to also produce small-sized cars that suit the Indonesian market.

"We see that our people would start with a small car. Then, after finding it comfortable, they would think of owning large ones. This also applies to BYD," Rochman told this correspondent during the exhibition.

Angela Chang, a sales staff at Chinese e-motorcycle maker Yuntong Power Co Ltd, said that they would further promote their products in Indonesia following PEVS 2025, given the country's large population, notably its big numbers of young people. Their products are quite saleable in Vietnam, she told China Daily correspondent at the expo.

Jakarta, Indonesia's largest city and one of the most congested and one of the most polluted areas in the world, hosts around 22 million vehicles, with motorcycles making up nearly 80 percent of the total.

Muhammad Reza Rahmaditio, Trade and Supply Chain Emissions at World Resources Institute, told this correspondent that China would become Indonesia's great partner in the future, not only for the development of its supply chains and industrialization, but especially for its green industrialization.

Given Indonesia's abundant nickel resources, Rahmaditio calls for China's greater participation in nickel processing in Indonesia, for EV battery making.

He agrees with Moeldoko who said that Indonesia is still facing a serious challenge of providing many more charging stations for EVs across the vast archipelago.

Chan said nickel is very important and there are other non-nickel materials that are also good for making EV batteries.

PERIKLINDO was founded in 2021, based on a presidential regulation, aiming to accelerate the development and adoption of battery-powered vehicles in Indonesia and make Indonesia one of the world leaders in EV battery production, taking advantage of the country's abundant nickel resources.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.