Indonesian Car Sales: Chinese Brands Surge, Shifting Landscape for Japanese Automakers

New car sales in Indonesia saw an increase in August 2026 compared to the previous month, setting a new monthly sales record. According to the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), wholesale sales (factory to dealer) reached 81,756 units, while retail sales (dealer to consumer) hit 83,442 units. Retail sales, in particular, showed a significant jump of 7.7% from July. Amidst this strong sales performance, shifts are occurring in the brand rankings. Toyota, which has long dominated the Indonesian market, maintained its top position with wholesale sales of 20,357 units and retail sales of 21,938 units. Its sibling brand, Daihatsu, secured second place with 13,214 wholesale units and 12,100 retail units. Notably, Chinese brands have made a significant surge. BYD has climbed to third place, surpassing traditional top brands like Suzuki, Mitsubishi, and Honda. Jaecoo also entered the top 10, even outselling Honda in wholesale figures at times. This trend indicates that Chinese brands are rapidly increasing their presence in the Indonesian automotive market, which has historically been dominated by Japanese car manufacturers. Diversified sales strategies and product lineups are expanding consumer choices and reshaping the market structure.