The following op-ed was contributed by Leighton Cosseboom. Cosseboom is a principal and the head of public relations and communications of AC Ventures, a leading venture capital firm in ASEAN, with more than USD 500 million in assets under management. The firm is a generational partner to founders driving positive societal change and economic impact in Indonesia and beyond.
Earlier today, Indonesia-based Otoklix reported positive annual growth metrics with imminent profitability and unveiled a plan to play a central role in the nation’s upcoming electric vehicle infrastructure overhaul.
Founded in 2019, Otoklix is revolutionizing Indonesia’s automotive aftermarket, a sector traditionally characterized by fragmentation and inefficiency. In the past two years, the tech startup has reported a 2x topline growth year-over-year and double-digit positive growth in unit economics, further outpacing its topline growth and taking the company to profitability within 12 months.
Indonesia’s automotive aftermarket is one of the largest in Southeast Asia, currently estimated by Otoklix to already be worth around USD 16 billion. But despite tremendous growth, the industry remains rife with friction on multiple fronts.
In Indonesia, servicing and fixing cars has long been a cumbersome process. While authorized dealers are burdened with high costs and long waiting times, the independent workshop sector, which controls 80% of the market, has been plagued by issues such as fraud risk, lack of standardization, and poor after-sales service. Notably, many of these independent workshops still rely on pen-and-paper methods for transaction management, stifling their own growth and profitability.
With early backing from AC Ventures, Otoklix has stepped in to address these issues head-on. For vehicle owners, the platform offers an easier, more standardized, and transparent process for vehicle maintenance. Users can discover and access services at recommended independent workshops nearby and receive warranties for transactions at these Otoklix-partnered locations. For the workshops themselves, Otoklix provides powerful customer relationship management and supply chain management software solutions designed to significantly increase topline revenue, margin, and operational efficiency.
The startup’s financial growth has been as impressive as its technological advancements. Otoklix has disclosed that it will reach profitability within a year’s time. Its financial fundamentals are a testament to the company’s efficacious business model and the high demand for its services in the market.
Otoklix has opened its own workshops to further increase margins. In addition, the company is deploying new business-to-business solutions, already working closely with corporate clients such as the nation’s state-owned Telkom Group. On the tech side, a proprietary artificial intelligence stack is under development, aimed at automating data processes and diagnostics for better efficiency in workshops. Perhaps most notably, however, Otoklix is now a first-mover in Indonesia’s electric vehicle aftermarket, with a focus on outfitting and educating workshop teams to service electric motorbikes.
The startup has also entered into a strategic partnership with Indonesia’s state-owned oil and natural gas corporation Pertamina to reestablish the Bright Olimart service chains across Pertamina petrol stations. This partnership is further expanding Otoklix’s reach while adding an additional layer of convenience and assurance for vehicle owners nationwide.
Otoklix is not just a story of business success but a shining example of how digital transformation can breathe new life into legacy sectors. It signifies the readiness of the Indonesian market for technological innovations that address real consumer pain points while equipping traditional sectors with the tools they need for modern competition. The startup’s remarkable growth metrics are compelling evidence of product-market fit.
Otoklix co-founder and CEO Martin Reyhan Suryohusudo said, “In just two years, Otoklix has seen a 2x multiple on top-line growth year-on-year, and the data doesn’t lie—there’s enormous, untapped potential in Indonesia’s automotive aftermarket. As the sector grapples with challenges like lack of standardization and inefficiencies, we view these not as obstacles, but as opportunities. Opportunities to bring transformative digital solutions that not only make vehicle maintenance a seamless experience for owners but also drive operational excellence for independent workshops.”
Martin added, “Our double-digit percentage in positive unit economics also indicates that we are on the right path, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. As we approach profitability, we’re gearing up to capture a larger share of this market and set new industry standards, making Otoklix synonymous with automotive care in Indonesia.”