Neta began accepting reservations for three models from Indonesian customers during a local auto show, and their official sales will begin in the fourth quarter.

(Image credit: Neta)

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Neta Auto has entered the Indonesian EV market, further expanding its presence in Southeast Asia.

Neta participated in the Gaikindo Indonesia International auto show (GIIAS) 2023 on August 10 and presented its flagship sedan, the Neta S, as well as two compact SUVs, the Neta U-II and the Neta V.

Neta's three models were available for reservation by Indonesian customers during the auto show, and official sales will begin in the fourth quarter, the company said in a press release.

This is Neta's first appearance in Indonesia after entering ASEAN countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei.

Indonesia's EV market has great potential and Neta is confident that it will meet the mobility needs of local consumers with its smart EVs, said Wang Chengjie, the company's assistant president and vice president of the overseas business unit.

In addition to selling its EVs in Indonesia starting this year, Neta also plans to manufacture its vehicles in the country.

On July 26, Neta signed a memorandum of cooperation with its Indonesian partner PT Handal Indonesia Motor, and the two sides plan to start local production of Neta's products starting in the second quarter of 2024.

Neta was one of the first Chinese automakers to start testing the waters of the overseas EV market, announcing in September 2021 that it would enter the ASEAN market.

In August 2022, Neta launched the right-hand drive version of the Neta V in Thailand.

On March 10 this year, Neta laid the foundation stone for its plant in Bangkok, Thailand, which will be its main manufacturing base for building right-hand drive EVs for export to ASEAN, the company said at the time.

Upon completion, the plant will have a capacity of 20,000 units/year and is expected to start production by the end of January 2024, Neta previously said.

On March 21, Neta shipped 3,600 units of the Neta V to Thailand, the largest single export among China's new car-making forces.

In the first half of this year, Neta completed the export of a cumulative total of nearly 8,000 vehicles, the company said today, adding that the Neta V became the top-selling pure electric vehicle in Thailand in June.

Neta has been seen as a budget EV maker since its inception, as its vehicles are priced mainly to target the low to mid-range market.

The Neta S is its first effort in the premium market, initially launching in China on July 31, 2022.On the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, Neta unveiled the Neta GT electric sports car, its latest attempt to enter the premium market.

Neta delivered 10,039 vehicles in July, down 28.48 percent from 14,037 in the same month a year ago and 17.25 percent from 12,132 in June, according to data released on August 1.

The company didn't explain why deliveries slipped in July, though its model switch may have had some impact.

On July 20, Neta launched a facelift of the Neta S with a starting price of RMB 159,800 ($22,160), down RMB 30,000, or 15.81 percent, from the RMB 189,800 of the previous model on sale.

($1 = RMB 7.2119)

Neta starts construction of its first overseas plant in Thailand, with planned annual capacity of 20,000 units