BYD Considers Introducing Kei EV 'Racco' to Indonesia

BYD Motor Indonesia is considering the introduction of the Racco, a Kei car-sized electric vehicle (EV) launched in Japan on July 28, to the Indonesian market. The company is currently conducting market research and gathering public feedback through social media. "We are still in the stage of trying to identify and study the market for this type of vehicle, as it is actually a favorite in other countries," said Luther Panjaitan, Head of Public and Government Relations at BYD Motor Indonesia, after the inauguration of the BYD factory in Subang, West Java, on Thursday (3/9). In August, the social media account @byd_indonesia posted at least three materials about the Racco. These posts introduced the Racco's advantages, including its automatic sliding doors, a driving range of 320 km, flexible cabin and storage space, and color options. "So, through direct communication with owners via social media, we want to know the market's feedback. Surprisingly, it's very positive," Luther stated. He also mentioned that the company wants to monitor the Racco's key strengths in terms of communication, promotion, and pricing. BYD claims the Racco received over 1,000 pre-orders in Japan within two weeks of its launch and targets 10,000 pre-orders by 2026. The Racco is priced from 2.14 million yen (approximately Rp241 million) to 2.497 million yen (approximately Rp281 million) in Japan (exchange rate: Rp112.82 per yen). A Nikkei report on August 31, 2026, stated that BYD plans to leverage the K-Car technology adopted by the Racco to develop small electric cars for markets outside Japan. The Racco uses a new battery pack called the X-Pack, which integrates various essential components like the inverter into the battery casing placed on the car's floor. This design differs from other models that typically place components like the inverter under the front hood, thus limiting cabin space. "It's still in process. We are trying to combine the results of engineering research with market research and the actual taste on the ground. We are currently calculating and combining these until we decide whether to sell it or introduce it soon," Luther explained. Source: CNN Indonesia