Seeing Indonesia’s EV and Parts Manufacturing in Action at E-Motorcycle Producer GESITS

During the second part of our trip we could see Indonesia’s manufacturing in action when we visited GESITS, a rising star in the world of electric scooters and motorcycles. The visit to this young and local manufacturer was not only supposed to discuss matters regarding our current E-Mobility sourcings, it also helped us a lot to understand the inner workings of the industry and the state politics regarding Indonesia’s electrification of the transport sector.

As 100% local Indonesian electric scooter manufacturer, GESITS embarked on its journey to revolutionize urban mobility back in 2017. The main company behind the GESITS brand is PT WIKA Industri Manufaktur (WIMA). By 2019, they were fully operational and president Jokowi confirmed that Gesits was ready to enter the domestic automotive market, and ready for mass production in 2019. Their commitment to providing customized solutions for government e-scooters and partnerships with giants like Gojek has solidified their presence as a rising key player in the industry.

As of now, the production capacity is stated to be 200 units per day. Despite encountering initial distribution challenges, fleets and individual consumers began receiving these products between the end of the year and the start of 2020. Despite the pandemic’s impact, GESITS persevered and extended its sales network across Indonesia. In a significant milestone, GESITS ventured into the export market, shipping electric motorcycles to Senegal in June 2021. These motorcycles served as efficient transportation vehicles. Looking ahead, GESITS has plans to expand its export reach to Australia.

One striking feature of GESITS’ operations is their commitment to local production, they are about to reach the remarkable goal of 60% local content value share. From e-motors to seating, rims to frame, and even the entire design, GESITS takes pride in Indonesian craftsmanship. However, they import some components like onboard chargers and batteries are still imported with plans to localize them within the next two years.

GESITS offers a range of electric scooters, including the G1 scooter with 1.5 KW power and a price of 29 million Indonesian Rupiah (1,850 US Dollar), and the Raya 800 scooter, boasting 1 KW of power at 26.9 million Indonesian Rupiah (1,700 US Dollar). These eco-friendly vehicles offer a range of 45 km, with a top speed of 70 km/h (100 km/h if not limited by local regulation). Charging time of this budget system is within reasonable limits, taking 4 hours on a household outlet.

GESITS is backed by strong shareholders, with WIMA’s holding WIKON bringing in more than two decades of experience the serve the local automotive and construction industry. Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC) and state-owned oil and gas producer PERTAMINA also count to the major shareholders.

The joint ownership of WIKON and IBC is geared towards bolstering GESITS as a comprehensive two-wheeled electric motorcycle platform, seamlessly integrated with the entire battery supply chain and the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, spanning from the initial production stages to the final consumer experience. One of the ecosystem’s major pillars is the electric vehicle charging infrastructure which is developed by IBC’s parent company BUMN group.

GESITS represents the thriving ecosystem of electric mobility in Southeast Asia, with support from local governments and companies like Grab and Gojek. They epitomize Indonesia’s transition to electric vehicles, driven by abundant raw materials like nickel and cobalt. The localization of components and plans for international expansion paint a promising picture for the future of the industry . The GESITS team has opened our eyes to the electrifying future of mobility in Indonesia, and we’re excited to continue this dialogue with them. Stay tuned for more updates on this electrifying journey!