As parent company Toyota is making strides in its electrification efforts in Indonesia with the launch of the Yaris Cross Hybrid, Innova Zenix Hybrid, and bZ4X, Daihatsu seems to be following suit albeit within the next 2 years.

At a recent event to celebrate the 8 millionth Daihatsu produced in the country, Indonesia’s Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in a speech that the D brand should launch an electrified model by 2025. “The government encourages PT Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM) to offer a line of electrified vehicles (xEV) in Indonesia by 2025 in accordance with Innovation for Tomorrow,” he said.

In regards to that, ADM’s Marketing Director and Corporate Planning Director, Sri Agung Handayani told OtoDriver that the carmaker aims to achieve the government’s directives to launch an xEV model within that timeframe.

“We are looking to launch a new xEV model by 2025,” Sri told the Indonesian automotive media. She continued, “(ADM) will see whether electric or hybrids would be more feasible in the meantime.”

Daihatsu presented a fully-electric (EV) concept of the last-generation Ayla at the 2022 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS). The Ayla EV is powered by a 32-kWh battery pack powering a 60-kW electric motor and that battery pack is the largest among A-segment cars.

Also read: Daihatsu Ayla EV concept car debuts in Indonesia, Axia EV hinted?

For comparison, the Wuling Air EV is powered by a 26.5-kWh battery pack for the Long Range variant while the Nissan Sakura EV is juiced up by a 20-kWh battery pack.

Perhaps Daihatsu’s first xEV in Indonesia might be based on the Xenia though this might be a petrol-electric hybrid instead. Indonesian media have speculated that Toyota is developing a hybrid version of the Veloz which could be launched at the 2023 GIIAS to be held next month.

As reported by our sister publication, AutoFun ID, the upcoming Toyota hybrid could be priced around IDR 300 million (~RM 93k) which is around the price of the Xenia’s more upmarket twin to the Avanza. Recall that the Xenia/Avanza/Veloz are underpinned by the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform.

Also read: Toyota to introduce a new hybrid model at GIIAS 2023 - Could it be the Toyota Veloz Hybrid?

Still, OtoDriver is leaning on Daihatsu’s first xEV to be based on the Ayla. With that said, could the all-new Axia also be electrified in the future?