GAIKINDO Hands Over ASEAN Automotive Federation Leadership to Malaysia Until 2028

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com—The Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (GAIKINDO) has officially handed over the leadership of the ASEAN Automotive Federation (AAF) to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) for the 2026–2028 term. The transition marks the beginning of a new chapter in regional cooperation for the Southeast Asian automotive industry.

The handover was made from the 2022–2025 AAF leadership under GAIKINDO to MAA. The federation serves as the umbrella organization for automotive industry associations across ASEAN member states and acts as a bridge between industry players, member governments, and the ASEAN Secretariat.

GAIKINDO Executive Chairman and Chairman of the GAIKINDO Exhibition and Conference, Anton Kumonty, said that during Indonesia’s leadership of the AAF over the past two years, the country prioritized strengthening the automotive industry’s value chain, accelerating the transition to new energy vehicles, and enhancing policy dialogue among ASEAN member states.

“The handover of leadership to Malaysia is not an end, but the beginning of a stronger relationship between Indonesia, Malaysia, and all ASEAN countries to build a regional automotive sector that is competitive, innovative, and sustainable,” Anton said recently.

Under MAA’s leadership, the AAF has outlined several key priorities for the 2026–2028 period. One of its main objectives is to promote the harmonization of vehicle standards and regulations, including those for electric vehicles, to accelerate policy alignment across ASEAN.

The federation will also strengthen its role in providing strategic recommendations to ASEAN economic ministers and relevant institutions to help create more integrated automotive industry policies.

In addition, the AAF aims to deepen regional cooperation as part of efforts to achieve the ASEAN automotive industry’s development vision for 2030.

GAIKINDO expressed hope that the leadership transition would ensure the continuity of the collaboration established in recent years while further enhancing the competitiveness of Southeast Asia’s automotive industry in the global market.