Doha, en.SERU.co.id – The Semeru Team from Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) has once again brought pride to Indonesia on the international stage at the Shell Eco-marathon Qatar 2026, held in Doha, Qatar, from January 21–25, 2026. In this prestigious global competition for energy-efficient vehicle innovation, the team secured two major victories: 1st place in the Prototype Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) category and 3rd place in the Urban Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) category.
Avita Ayu Permanasari, ST, MT, advisor to the Semeru Team UM, described the achievement as the result of strong collective effort.
She expressed immense pride in guiding the team to qualify for the Shell Eco-marathon Global Championship Qualifier in 2027. She also reaffirming UM’s consistent commitment to research and innovation in environmentally friendly energy technologies.
“Alhamdulillah, this success stems from the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of every team member. Being selected as a Global Championship Qualifier for 2027 is international recognition of the outstanding quality of UM students’ research,” Avita Ayu stated on Monday January 26, 2026.
In the Prototype ICE category, the team’s flagship vehicle, Kumbolo, achieved an impressive fuel efficiency of up to 1,109 kilometers per liter. This is an improvement over previous years and clear evidence of the students’ sustained research success in automotive engineering.
Notably, the announcement of their qualification for the 2027 Global Championship Qualifier came directly from the organizers immediately after the awards ceremony.
From the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region, only four universities were selected: Semeru Team UM, Antasena from ITS, Apatte from Universitas Brawijaya, and Antawirya from Universitas Diponegoro.
“The next stage will bring together champions from Shell Eco-marathon events around the world, including those from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and South America,” she added.
The Semeru Team’s accomplishments also drew significant international media attention. The team was interviewed by foreign media and featured prominently by Shell Eco-marathon across various social media platforms, boosting Universitas Negeri Malang’s global visibility.
“Looking ahead, the Semeru Team is optimistic that this achievement will serve as a key stepping stone toward the internationalization of UM. With continued institutional support and sustainable team regeneration, UM aims to maintain its tradition of championship wins and student innovation on the world stage,” she concluded. (*/rhd)
