PT VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas (VKTR), a subsidiary of PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk (BNBR) together with PT Industri Kereta Api (Persero) or PT INKA and PT Barata Indonesia, agreed to cooperate in the development and manufacture of automotive components based on electric vehicles. The Head of Agreement (HoA) between the three parties was signed by the Director of Finance, HR and Risk Management of PT INKA Andy Budiman, President Director of VKTR Gilarsi W. Setijono, and Marketing Director of PT Barata Sulistyo Handoko, in Gresik, East Java, Thursday (15/9/2022).

Andy Budiman said the three companies that had just signed the HoA agreed to collaborate in developing automotive components, especially for electric vehicles, in order to create an electric vehicle component industry ecosystem. The scope of the cooperation between the three companies includes the development of automotive components, especially for electric vehicles, testing the performance and durability of automotive components that were jointly developed as well as the implementation of components developed in electric vehicles. “For the first phase, the collaboration will be implemented on electric bus transportation made by PT INKA (Persero),” said Andy.

PT INKA (Persero) supports Presidential Decree No. 55 of 2019 concerning the Acceleration of Battery-Based Electric Vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles) and is currently producing 53 units of electric buses, of which 30 units will be used for transportation at the G-20 Summit and after the G-20 Summit. all of them will be operated by Perum DAMRI in Bandung and Surabaya.

“TKDN in its first generation electric bus, PT INKA (Persero) has reached 42 percent and this year it has reached 60 percent TKDN and is further being improved through collaboration with universities that involve local industries in the manufacture of electric buses,” said Andy.

On the same occasion, Gilarsi W. Setijono emphasized the purpose of the establishment of this strategic partnership, namely to create an electricity-based transportation ecosystem by combining the competencies and resources of each party. “Later on, our joint work will be focused on 4 things, namely research and development; co-manufacturing; repower or conversion of conventional vehicles into electricity; and sustainable ecosystem development,” he explained.

According to Gilarsi, in terms of research and development, the parties are open to collaborating with companies or universities that have collaborated with INKA and VKTR. The parties also jointly become co-manufactures ranging from the form of the design process to the manufacture of mechanical and electronic components for electrical transportation. In the case of converting conventional vehicles to electric vehicles (repower), cooperation will be carried out in terms of the conversion process as well as the design and manufacture of the required components. “In terms of sustainable ecosystem development, cooperation will be carried out in the form of providing electricity-based transportation that is more environmentally friendly for a number of tourist destinations – our main targets include the Sarangan, Bromo, Borobudur and Dieng areas,” explained Gilarsi.

Meanwhile, Sulistyo Handoko welcomed the collaboration positively. As a national manufacturing company, Barata Indonesia has a manufacturing capacity with complete infrastructure in various industries. Not only that, Barata Indonesia is also ready to support the needs of the national transportation industry with a high TKDN. This collaboration is also considered to create imported substitute products.

“We continue to innovate in developing the competence of casting products to produce various types of industrial component products that are competitive and can substitute for imported components. We welcome this collaboration not only to bring benefits to businesses, but also to contribute to the progress of the national manufacturing industry,” said Sulistyo.

Sulistyo added that later PT Barata Indonesia would produce castings for the electric bus components. Starting from the Front Swing Arm, Front Disc Brake Casing, Front Wheel Hub, Steering Link and Front Connector Pad.

Sulistyo added that later PT Barata Indonesia would produce castings for the electric bus components. Starting from the Front Swing Arm, Front Disc Brake Casing, Front Wheel Hub, Steering Link and Front Connector Pad.

PT Barata Indonesia (Persero) is a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) which is engaged in the fabrication of industrial components and construction projects in the fields of agriculture, energy, irrigation and other supporting industries, and is currently carrying out the development of railway components.

Meanwhile, PT VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas is a startup in the field of transportation electrification manufacturing and telematics ecosystem. The company has signed strategic partnerships with a number of parties, including the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Auto, the British environmentally friendly battery manufacturer British Volt, the Tri Sakti car body company, the British heavy mobility technology company Equipmake, Politeknik Negeri Surabaya (PENS), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) and several others. This collaboration with many parties is one of VKTR’s strategies to localize the technology of its manufacturing products, as well as aiming for the transportation electrification industry in Indonesia to be fully developed from upstream to downstream.