Indonesia to host largest EV battery plant in S-E Asia, factory owned by Hyundai and LG

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo has announced that a battery plant for electric vehicles (EV) in Karawang, West Java, is expected to become the largest of its kind in South-East Asia.

The factory is jointly owned by two Korean firms, namely Hyundai and LG, and is operated through their joint venture, Hyundai LG Industry (HLI) Green Power.

With production set to start early next year, the plant is expected to have a capacity of 30 million battery cells, sufficient for the production of an estimated 180,000 electric vehicles.

Speaking during a visit to the plant, Widodo emphasised that the establishment of the plant aligns with Indonesia’s ambitions to become the largest EV ecosystem in Southeast Asia and a crucial player in the global EV supply chain.

He further hinted at the potential for other countries to rely on Indonesia for their battery cell supplies once the country is fully integrated into the global supply chain.

Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia revealed that HLI Green Power has already started trial production at the factory, which was built two years ago.

He confirmed that actual production is slated to commence from March 2024 and that the factory, upon completion, will have an installed capacity of 30 GWh. - Vietnam News/ANN