President Prabowo Subianto has instructed all ministers and ECHELON 1 officials to use Maung SUVs made by state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad as official vehicles, according to Deputy Finance Minister Anggito Abhimanyu.
“Next week I will use Maung’s car, a car made by Pindad,” he said at the 15th anniversary of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Monday.
President Prabowo wants to end the use of imported cars as government vehicles during his term, he added.
“Mr. Prabowo has said that next week, there will be no more imported goods for ECHELON 1 cars and ministers. This is extraordinary (policy), ” he explained.
Designed by Sigit Puji Santosa, professor of Mechanical Engineering from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), this Maung SUV has 70 percent domestic components.
President Director of PT Pindad Abraham Mose has expressed his readiness to produce the SUV for official use, as directed by Prabowo.
“We must be able to because the supporting facilities and infrastructure will definitely be prepared. The principle is that Pindad has started (production) and the product is already there, ready to use, ” he said referring to the Garuda MV3 Limousine used by Prabowo after the oath of Office ceremony on October 20, 2024.
However, he did not disclose how many cars would be prepared for Prabowo’s ministers and officials to use.
The Maung is a lightweight 4×4 tactical SUV intended to support close combat operations and navigate difficult terrain.
According to the official Pindad website, Maung is designed for agile and reliable maneuverability to support the mobility of its users in various operational areas.
The SUV has a safe speed of 120 kilometers per hour, a 6-speed manual transmission and a range of up to 800 km.
Maung can be equipped with 7.62 mm gun bracket, SS2 v4 gun console, GPS navigation device, vehicle tracker and other equipment.
The four-passenger car weighs 2160 kilograms and can be modified for various purposes.
Prabowo chooses locally made SUV as official vehicle
Indonesia’s 8th President Prabowo Subianto drove a purpose-built presidential vehicle, the MV3 Garuda Limousine made by state-owned arms factory PT Pindad, from the Senayan legislative complex to the State Palace, Jakarta, on Sunday.
Prabowo rides a white Garuda MV3 or Maung Garuda after the oath of Office ceremony at the Senayan Parliament complex. The first time a presidential vehicle was shown to the public, complete with a vehicle plate that read ” Indonesia.”
“Of course, we are proud that our latest vehicle, the Garuda MV3 Limousine, the work of our employees, was used in a historic moment,” said President Director of PT Pindad, Abraham Mose.
He further thanked President Prabowo for continuing to trust PT Pindad.
Meanwhile, director of technology and development of PT Pindad, Sigit P. Santosa, said President Prabowo would be the first to use domestically made vehicles.
The Maung Garuda is a lightweight 4×4 tactical SUV intended to support close combat operations and navigate difficult terrain.
According to the official Pindad website, Maung is designed for agile and reliable maneuverability to support the mobility of its users in various operational areas.
The SUV has a safe speed of 120 kilometers per hour, a 6-speed manual transmission and a range of up to 800 km.
Maung can be equipped with 7.62 mm gun bracket, SS2 v4 gun console, GPS navigation device, vehicle tracker and other equipment.
The four-passenger car weighs 2160 kilograms and can be modified for various purposes.
However, Prabowo’s vehicle has been modified in European style with chrome rims. On the back there is a logo “GARUDA”.
Prabowo is often referred to by the code name ” Garuda.”