Episode 9 | 79% of EV Owners Are Happier. We Ran the Survey to Find Out Why

In our latest full-house episode of Proxemics, the team (Mercy, Steph, Sofyan, and Adwi) tackles a whirlwind of today's most pressing topics. We kick things off with a hard look at the controversial "996" work culture—is this grueling schedule the new price of global competition, especially in the race for AI dominance?

From there, we unpack the massive buzz from the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), where a "price war" ignited by Chinese brands is shaking up the auto industry. The episode then takes a sharp turn into a heated debate over music royalties, sparked by the arrest of a restaurant manager for playing music without a license. Finally, we bring in a special guest, Garda Maharsi, to reveal the groundbreaking findings from our independent, self-funded EV Owner Satisfaction Survey, offering a rare, data-backed look into the minds of electric vehicle drivers in Indonesia.

The 996 Debate: Is Non-Stop Grinding the Price of Global Competition?

The 996 work culture—9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week—popularized by Chinese tech giants is now being adopted by some US startups in the frantic "race for AI." This raises a critical question: is this the only way to compete? The team debates the long-term cost of this grind, weighing the rapid growth seen in post-war Japan and China against the inevitable toll on mental and physical health.

The consensus is that it's industry-dependent. While unsustainable for creative fields, the "grind" can be a powerful accelerator for young professionals in their early careers, offering immense exposure and rapid learning. It’s a classic trade-off: short-term career velocity versus long-term personal sustainability.

GIIAS Buzz, Price Wars, and What EV Owners Really Think

The GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) was buzzing with unprecedented crowds, even on a weekday. The main event? The aggressive entry of Chinese EV and hybrid brands like BYD, which has kicked off a fierce price war and a created online conflict between ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and EV loyalists.

This topic flows directly into our special segment with Garda Maharsi, who unveils the results of Praxis's independent EV Owner Survey. The findings, based on 1,200 respondents across 12 cities, are illuminating:

• Overwhelming Satisfaction: A massive 79% of EV owners are more satisfied with their electric car than their previous conventional car.

• Pragmatic Motivation: The number one reason for switching? Lower operational costs.

• Daily Drivers: EVs aren't just weekend toys; they are used as daily workhorses, often for 50-100 km per day.

• Key Pain Points: Owners want improvements in public charging infrastructure (SPKLU), easier access to home charger installation, and better in-car tech.

The survey concludes that the ecosystem's success hinges on a "penta-helix" collaboration between users, brands, government, infrastructure providers, and financial institutions.

The Music Royalty War: Supporting Artists vs. Killing the Ecosystem

A surprising debate erupted following the arrest of a Mie Gacoan manager for playing music without paying for a license. Under the current regulation, establishments must pay a yearly royalty fee based on their number of seats.

This sparks a contentious discussion. On one hand, musicians and especially songwriters deserve to be compensated for their intellectual property. On the other hand, public spaces like cafes and restaurants are a primary channel for music discovery (the "Shazam effect"). Overly aggressive enforcement could stifle the very ecosystem it's meant to protect, hurting everyone from emerging artists who lose exposure to the cafe bands who build their careers on covers. It’s a classic case of balancing artistic rights with practical economic realities.

Watch/Listen to the Full Episode for More

This summary only scratches the surface. To hear our full breakdown of the new Indonesia-US trade deal, the economic impact of GIIAS on the creative industry, and how our independent EV survey will be a game-changer for marketers, you need to listen to the full episode.

Timestamps

• 0:00 - Welcome to the Full House Edition.

• 00:30 - The 996 Work Culture Debate: Is America looking to China for its work ethic?

• 06:43 - Is 996 Sustainable? Balancing Productivity with Long-Term Health.

• 13:56 - The Early Career Grind: Why intense hours can accelerate learning for young professionals.

• 16:34 - Unpacking the New Indonesia-US Trade Deal and its potential impact.

• 24:52 - The GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS): Buzz, crowds, and a looming price war.

• 26:53 - The Great Divide: A created conflict between EV and ICE car owners online.

• 32:00 - GIIAS's Economic Impact on the Creative and PR Industries.

• 39:01 - The Music Royalty War: The Mie Gacoan case and the debate over copyright.

• 42:28 - Balancing Act: Is enforcing music royalties in public spaces greedy or fair?

• 50:02 - Special Segment: Welcoming Garda Maharsi to discuss the Praxis EV Owner Survey.

• 51:20 - Key Finding #1: 79% of EV owners are MORE satisfied than with their old car.

• 52:23 - Key Finding #2: Why pragmatism and lower costs are the top motivators for buying an EV.

• 53:27 - Key Finding #3: The biggest pain points for EV owners today (Hint: It’s the charging).

• 59:39 - The Penta-Helix Model: The 5 stakeholders needed to grow the EV ecosystem.

Brands/People Mentioned in This Episode

• People: Garda Maharsi, Michael Jackson (@michaeljackson), Ahmad Dhani (@AhmadDhaniOfficial), Once Mekel (@OnceMekelOfficial), Kenny G (@kennyg), Billy Corgan, Jon Bon Jovi (@jonbonjovi).

• Brands & Automotive: BYD (@BYDGlobal), Ford (@Ford), Dodge (@Dodge), GMC (@GMC), Holden, Honda (@Honda), MG (@MGMotor), Toyota (@Toyota), Hyundai (@HyundaiWorldwide), Tesla (@Tesla), GAIKINDO (GIIAS) (@giias_id), Mie Gacoan (@mie.gacoan).

• Tech & Media: Apple Music (@AppleMusic), Spotify (@Spotify), Shazam (@Shazam), LinkedIn (@LinkedIn).

• Events & Organizations: South by Southwest (SXSW) (@sxsw), WTO, G7.