On August 13, Indonesian President Joko Widodo took a test ride of the smart tram system introduced by Chinese companies in the new capital, Nusantara. He stated that compared to traditional rail transit, the smart tram system is expected to offer a more sustainable and cost-effective solution.
That day, President Widodo boarded the smart tram system in front of the new presidential palace, traveled around four coordinating ministry office buildings, and then returned to the presidential palace, covering a distance of about 2 kilometers. In an earlier conference with leaders from provinces, cities, and counties across the country, Widodo compared the smart tram system with traditional rail systems and pointed out that in increasingly congested cities, the cost of the smart tram system is significantly lower than that of subways and light rails. He noted, "Indonesia needs a public transportation system based on green energy to address rising pollution levels in urban areas. The smart tram system is a high-cost-effective solution suitable for the development of Indonesian cities."
The smart tram system tested by Widodo was jointly launched by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) and CRRC Corporation Limited, with both companies collaborating to deploy the system in Nusantara. The smart tram system is an innovative technology independently developed by CRRC, known as the "virtual rail light rail." The system's trains use tires instead of steel rails, requiring only road markings to guide the trains along their routes, thereby saving a substantial amount in infrastructure investment.
According to Wang Xiaobing, Deputy General Manager of NORINCO, the smart tram system utilizes virtual rail, Beidou positioning, autonomous driving, and pure battery power, offering advantages such as lower cost, shorter construction time, and higher flexibility compared to traditional rail trams with similar capacity. The system's high capacity and low carbon emissions are expected to help alleviate traffic congestion and environmental pressure in large cities. The smart tram system is already in commercial operation in several cities in China and the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi.