Tangerang, October 9, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) continues to strengthen Indonesia’s national automotive modification industry ecosystem through the Indonesia Modification & Lifestyle Expo (IMX) 2026, held on October 9–11, 2026, at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), BSD City, Tangerang. The event serves as a strategic accelerator for automotive creative industry players to expand business networks, scale up their businesses, and enter global supply chains.
The Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf) continues to strengthen the national automotive modification industry ecosystem through the Indonesia Modification & Lifestyle Expo (IMX) 2026, held on October 9–11, 2026, at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), BSD City, Tangerang.
Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar officially attended the opening of IMX 2026 on Friday (9/10). On the occasion, she appreciated the close collaboration between the National Modificator & Aftermarket Association (NMAA), the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI), and automotive communities that have consistently contributed to building this ecosystem. Carrying the theme Next Gen Culture, IMX 2026 demonstrates how automotive modification has evolved from a hobby into a high-value industry that integrates technical expertise, design, technology, and innovation.
“For the Ministry of Creative Economy, automotive modification is no longer just a weekend hobby or a supplementary activity. It is a high-value creative industry. It brings together engineering, designers, craftspeople, technology, local brands, intellectual property (IP), and lifestyle. This is where creativity transforms into measurable value creation, opens up new employment opportunities, and drives economic activity at both regional and national levels,” said Irene.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The strengthening of the automotive modification industry is increasingly supported by a robust legal framework through Presidential Regulation No. 37 of 2026 concerning the Creative Economy Master Plan (Rindekraf) 2026–2045. This regulation officially expands the scope of Indonesia’s creative economy from 17 to 21 subsectors, introducing automotive modification as one of the new subsectors. This formal recognition by the government underscores the strategic position of automotive modification within the national economy, with substantial potential for investment, talent development, and business ecosystem growth.
As an annual event held since 2018, IMX 2026, which occupies Halls 1–3 at ICE BSD City, serves as a meeting point for builders, aftermarket component manufacturers, local brands, designers, and international buyers. The track record of Indonesian automotive modification players on the global stage, including at Osaka Auto Messe in Japan and the IMI SEMA Project in Las Vegas, United States, demonstrates that local products are capable of competing internationally.
Nevertheless, Irene emphasized the need to move beyond mere participation in international exhibitions. According to her, global market penetration must be accompanied by stronger local supply chains and sustainable business partnerships.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Going global is good, but building a sustainable supply chain is the real game. Our next challenge is to ensure that success in Osaka or Las Vegas does not end as a one-off moment of celebration. We must drive this momentum toward concrete business matching, export transactions for local aftermarket parts, IP licensing, and industry collaborations that are scalable and commercially sustainable,” Irene stressed.
To build a resilient ecosystem, the Ministry of Creative Economy is committed to supporting expanded market access, intellectual property (IP) registration, and access to capital and investment. Meanwhile, industry players, local brand owners, and aftermarket manufacturers are encouraged to strengthen corporate governance, adopt digital technologies, and improve product standards to prepare for international-scale partnerships.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
Through the momentum generated by IMX 2026, the Ministry of Creative Economy reaffirms its commitment to strengthening collaboration among the government, businesses, academia, communities, and media. This integrated approach is expected to boost the competitiveness of local products, create quality employment opportunities, and position Indonesia’s automotive modification industry as a key driver of the global creative economy.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
