APINDO Delegation Visits Hu Lane Associate Inc.
Friday, 02 May 2025
On Friday, May 2, 2025, an APINDO delegation conducted a courtesy visit to Hu Lane Associate Inc. in Taipei, as part of a roadshow initiative to Taiwan.
Established in 1977, Hu Lane Associate Inc. is a leading Taiwanese manufacturer of automotive and motorcycle connectors. Originally founded as a mold-based manufacturing company, Hu Lane has evolved into a sophisticated producer of connectors, terminals, wiring harnesses, and various components serving the automotive, motorcycle, medical, and electronics industries.
In Indonesia, Hu Lane operates through PT Hulane Tech Manufacturing, which has been active since 2017 in Cikarang, West Java. The facility focuses on the production of automotive connectors and components, serving as a strategic manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, with the majority of its output exported back to Taiwan.
During the meeting, APINDO Chairwoman Shinta W. Kamdani highlighted the attractiveness of Indonesia’s automotive industry, which recorded USD 2.06 billion in investment up to September 2024—an increase of 43% over the past five years. Foreign direct investment (FDI) accounted for USD 1.83 billion of this total. The persistent reliance on private vehicles, driven by limited public transportation infrastructure, continues to fuel demand. Indonesia’s motorization rate remains low, at 99 cars per 1,000 people, far behind Malaysia (490) and Thailand (280), underscoring the vast untapped market potential.
Data from 2023 shows that Indonesia exported 505,134 vehicles, with a total export value of USD 6.12 billion—up 6.7% year-on-year. The electric vehicle (EV) segment is experiencing remarkable growth. Sales of EVs (including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models) surged 153% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 43,188 units and capturing 5% of the domestic automotive market, driven by government incentives and the availability of more affordable models.
Through its visit to Hu Lane Associate Inc., APINDO identified several opportunities for collaboration, including:
- Expansion of the aftermarket segment and strengthening Hu Lane’s presence in Indonesia’s vehicle maintenance sector through partnerships with local distributors.
- Technology transfer and workforce upskilling, by fostering collaborations with vocational institutions in precision engineering and connector assembly, supporting the development of Industry 4.0-ready talent.
- Joint research and innovation in developing tropical-weather-resistant electric vehicle connectors and high-voltage connector technologies, aimed at combining Hu Lane’s technical expertise with Indonesia’s expanding EV market potential.
The success story of Hulane’s operations in Indonesia is expected to serve as a compelling case for encouraging further investments from Taiwanese companies across the automotive supply chain.
Chairman Shinta was accompanied by a high-level APINDO delegation, including Vice Chairman Eddy Hussy, Deputy Secretary-General Hendra Widjaja, Head of Trade Affairs Anne Patricia Sutanto, Vice Chair for International Relations Didit Ratam, Vice Chair for Investment Daniel Budiman, Head of the Asia-Pacific Committee Adi Harsono, Head of Taxation for Banking & Financial Services Siddhi Widyaprathama, International Relations Board Helga Kumontoy, East Java Regional APINDO Chair Eddy Widjanarko, and Treasurer of East Java Regional APINDO Soejanto Wijaya.
