Toyota pushes its hybrids to defend Indonesia market, ASEAN's largest

JAKARTA -- Japanese automakers are trying to keep their presence felt in Indonesia with their latest hybrid electric vehicles at a time when a growing number of Chinese EV brands are also homing in on Southeast Asia's largest auto market.

Toyota Motor showcased its latest Prius hybrids on Wednesday ahead of the public opening of the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, organized by the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries, known as Gaikindo. The event, with 35 automakers participating, will kick off for the public on Thursday in a suburb of Jakarta and run through July 28.