CKD Ford Mustang Mach E for Indonesia soon? Ford to meet Indonesia next Monday

Ford could be making a return to Indonesia soon, this time with local assembly (CKD) of electric vehicles (EVs). The country’s Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan revealed that Ford representatives will be in Indonesia on 20-June.

Ford had pulled out of Indonesia in 2016, shutting down its national sales office there but earlier this year, Ford made a quiet return and is now represented by an independent local distributor PT Mitra Bisnis.

The discussion between Ford and Indonesia will focus on manufacturing, covering both upstream and downstream part of the EV manufacturing ecosystem.

“The company wants to invest in [the EV industry] end-to-end,” said Luhut, who also added that Indonesia is well positioned to be an influential player in the EV era as Indonesia has the world’s largest nickel reserve, and also has rich deposits of cobalt, bauxite, and copper ores, the main components in the production of EV batteries.

Presently, Ford’s only has manufacturing operations in Thailand and Vietnam, producing the Ford Ranger and Everest.

Globally, Ford only has only electric model that is available in right-hand drive form, the Ford Mustang Mach E. In the near- to mid-term, other upcoming Ford EV models include a new Ford Kuga-class electric SUV and an electric Ford Puma. EV versions of the Ford Transit has also been confirmed but a lot of these product plans are focused on Europe.

To date, the Ford Mustang Mach E is the Blue Oval’s only electric global model.

This latest development comes after Tesla’s Elon Musk is confirmed to fly to Indonesia in November to discuss the setting up of a local manufacturing of Tesla cars.

Indonesia is pitching to Tesla its Batang Industrial Estate, which will be powered by a 400 MW renewable geothermal energy. The site now counts LG as its biggest investor, with a RM 43.1 billion end-to-end battery manufacturing and recycling facility under construction.

Also read: To overtake Thailand, Indonesia makes Tesla a renewable energy offer it cannot refuse