Welcome Remarks of Mr. Hao Quoc Tien, CEO of Asia Region and President of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific

The honourable:

Minister of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita

Japan Ambassador for the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Kanasugi Kenji

Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs which represented by Mr. Ali Murtopo

Representative from Related Ministries and Karawang Regent

Our beloved Suppliers, Partners and Toyota Indonesia family

Good morning. First of all, allow me to thank Mr. Agus, Mr. Kanasugi, and all our other honoured guests for attending this very special occasion.

Today I would like to celebrate another milestone for Toyota Indonesia, on commencing the export of the first locally made Hybrid Electric Vehicles of Indonesia’s iconic Kijang Innova Zenix. This achievement was the logical next step to our Kijang Innova Zenix world-premiere in November last year, wherein we announced start of our local production.

Toyota has a strong commitment to continuously contribute to the Indonesian economy, to decarbonisation and the trade balance through local production and export activity from Indonesia. Today’s start of export of Hybrid Electric Vehicles, reflects the fact that the Indonesian automotive industry has entered the next level of capability and excellence, including its supply chain, to manufacture high technology green products.

This beautiful Kijang Innova Zenix product is the fruit of enhanced development of Indonesia’s human resources, which is the foundation of Toyota’s approach to contribute to this wonderful country. With this competitive advantage, Toyota Indonesia will further elevate its position as one of our premier production and export bases, including for Hybrid Electric Vehicles, built with local battery assembly, here in Toyota Indonesia. I truly want to thank the Indonesian government and especially President Jokowi, and Minister Agus, for their strong support towards Toyota’s role in Indonesia’s automotive industry development.

We are very happy and thankful for the extraordinary Indonesian customers’ response and acceptance to the Kijang Innova Zenix, especially the hybrid variant. Toyota would like to make every effort to fulfil this demand and make this technology available for all customers, both within Indonesia and for global customers.

Toyota strongly believes that Multiple Pathways of electrified technology, such as Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Battery Electric Vehicles, Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicles, and even bio-fuel vehicles, are the best way to provide the right choice to customers for their mobility needs and thereby gain scale and speed for decarbonization. This also has the best chance of contributing to the automotive and mobility industry of Indonesia in the short and mid-to-long term. The Kijang Innova Zenix, Hybrid Electric Vehicle, has the potential to be a mass and accessible eco-friendly technology, and the pioneer of multiple similar advanced technologies for Indonesia and beyond. Each clean technology will take its role in fulfilling “Mobility for All,” while the electrified mix will evolve over time depending on the local context and customer needs.

Today’s export marks another milestone from Toyota to introduce Indonesia’s national car, the Kijang, to the world. Actually, this iconic local-born model in Indonesia was the first model to be exported from Indonesia 36 years ago, in 1987. When Indonesia accelerated the development of the automotive industry, in the early 2000s, the Kijang Innova was exported to 15 countries with significant volume, and led the way for customers to appreciate Toyota Indonesia’s capability, and paved the way for other Toyota Indonesia models to penetrate the global market.

And now we are entering the electrification and greener technology export era, and I am certain that the Kijang Innova Zenix will take the role in leading the way for Toyota Hybrid Electric Vehicles models to be exported to even more countries. Now we will export to 19 countries, including in Africa and Latin America, with up to 17,000 units of exports a year. This export also reaffirms the role of Indonesia in providing clean “Mobility for All”, around the world and will further enhance the development of Indonesia’s automotive industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, on this wonderful occasion, allow me to express my deep gratitude to the Indonesian Government, customers, employees, suppliers, dealers, media and public for the last 50 years, in allowing Toyota Indonesia to compete and contribute. Now that we enter a new era of Indonesia’s automotive industry transformed through electrification, I look forward to supporting our contribution to Indonesia for the next 50 years.  Thank you.

February 21, 2023

Mr. Hao Quoc Tien

CEO of Asia Region of Toyota Motor Corporation and President of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific