Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s automotive exports emerged as the main pillar supporting the industry amid a significant slowdown in national automotive sales in 2025, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said on Thursday.“Amid a weakening domestic market, export performance has instead become the primary support for the automotive industry,” he said at the opening of the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2026 at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta.As wholesale sales fell by 7.2 percent and retail sales declined by 6.3 percent, the minister noted that exports of locally produced completely built-up (CBU) vehicles recorded solid growth of 9.7 percent, rising from 472,000 units in 2024 to 518,000 units in 2025.“This performance shows that our automotive products are competitive and possess strong value, enabling them to be accepted in the global market,” the minister said.The export growth showed that Indonesian automotive products were competitive in global markets in terms of quality and marketing strategies, Kartasasmita said, adding that the increase also reflected the government’s industrial diplomacy efforts to expand export quotas and destination markets.The positive export performance stands in contrast to the contraction of the domestic market and demonstrates that a global orientation is key to the resilience of the national automotive industry, Kartasasmita added.The government views export strengthening not only as a short-term solution but also as a strategic foundation for sustainable industrial growth.In line with this, the consistent growth of the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) over the past three consecutive years, with average transaction values increasing by 23 percent annually, is expected to further strengthen the industry ecosystem.Kartasasmita expressed hope that IIMS 2026 would serve as a catalyst to accelerate the industry’s recovery, while also providing a strategic platform for collaboration to expand the adoption of environmentally friendly vehicles and strengthen Indonesia’s position in the global automotive market.This year’s IIMS exhibition is targeting total transactions of Rp8 trillion (approx. US$475 million) and around 570,000 visitors.According to data from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), Indonesia’s automotive market in 2025 was indeed under pressure, with national retail car sales totaling around 833,000 units. This marked a decline of about 6.3 percent from 889,000 units recorded in 2024.