Mass Production Of Electric Cars In 2017

Tokyo (Antara Bali) - Indonesia's chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa said that mass production of electric cars in the country would only begin in 2017 after stages of tests.

"We expect to enter a 'proven' phase of mass producing electric cars in 2017," he said on the sidelines of the 4th Indonesia-Japan Joint Economic Forum here on Tuesday.

He said Indonesia has been committed to developing electric cars as as an alternative for increasing energy efficiency.

In view of that he said he himself had encouraged and agreed on the operation of electric cars in small scales including in residential areas as feeders.

"Actually operation of electric cars is already possible in small scales such as in residential areas in cities and so I agree if all parties would start using them in 2013-2014," he said, adding this would be an initial step towards mass production of the car.

"We must start this so that we have clear stages for achieving the proven stage of mass production," he said.(IGT)