PT Astra International Tbk (ASII) share prices have been steadily declining since two weeks ago. This downward trend coincides with the entry of Build Your Dream (BYD), the world's largest battery-based electric vehicle manufacturer, into the Indonesian market.
BYD officially entered Indonesia on January 18, 2024. According to Katadata, the Chinese automaker plans to invest Rp 20 trillion and build a factory in the country.
The entry of BYD is cited as the reason for the decline in ASII shares, leading to a significant sell-off by foreign investors over the past two weeks.
Yahoo Finance data shows that ASII's share price was Rp 5,600 per share at the close of trading on January 12, 2024. The following day, it dropped to Rp 5,525 per share.
ASII shares continued their downward trend, reaching Rp 5,225 per share on January 22, 2024. The latest price recorded was Rp 5,050 at the close of trading today, Thursday, January 25, 2024.
Today's share price is down 15.12% compared to January 25, 2023, when it was Rp 5,950 per share.
(Read also: Officially Entering Indonesia, What is the Global Sales Trend of BYD Electric Vehicles?)
Hadi Soegiarto, Head of Research at CGS-CIMB Sekuritas Indonesia, told Katadata that foreign investors are simply equating the impact of electric vehicle entry in developed countries with that in Indonesia. He believes that the market share of Japanese cars distributed by ASII, such as Toyota and Daihatsu, remains strong in Indonesia.
He argues that electric and non-electric vehicles each have their own market share. The entry of BYD does not automatically threaten non-electric vehicles in Indonesia.
"And I think there are other brands that will be affected before Toyota. Because people's considerations are different," Hadi told Katadata, quoted on Thursday (25/1/2024).
Hadi still recommends buying ASII shares. He is optimistic that ASII will continue to grow with its market share in Indonesia.
(Read also: Foreign Investors Heavily Sell Astra Shares After BYD's Entry, Analyst Says)