Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has called on President Prabowo Subianto to cancel a plan to import 105,000 commercial pick up cars from India. 

The fleet, intended for the "Koperasi Desa Merah Putih" cooperatives program, is viewed by Kadin as a threat to the domestic automotive sector, which is currently operating with significant idle capacity.

"Importing completely built-up vehicles is akin to killing a growing national industry," said Saleh Husin, the Kadin's Deputy Chairman for Industry, on Sunday (22/2/2026), as cited by antaranews.com 

He said that local manufacturers are fully capable of meeting this demand with products boasting a Domestic Component Level (TKDN) of over 40%. The planned import, reportedly involving Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors, includes 70,000 4x4 pickups and 35,000 six-wheeled trucks to be delivered throughout 2026.

Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita echoed these concerns, noting that if the 70,000-unit requirement were sourced domestically, it would generate a backward economic linkage worth approximately Rp 27 trillion. 

Kadin argues that government policies must remain consistent with President Prabowo’s downstreaming vision, prioritizing local manufacturing and job creation over foreign imports.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)