McDonald's Indonesia stages first National Drive Thru Day across 271 restaurants

McDonald’s Indonesia has turned its Drive Thru network into a nationwide brand celebration, with more than 70,000 vehicles taking part in its first National Drive Thru Day across 271 restaurants.

The activation formed part of the fast-food chain’s 35th anniversary celebrations and kicked off its August programme marking Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day. Built around the theme “Sepenuhnya Indonesia”, the event combined customer engagement, community activity and locally inspired experiences.

“As the first fast-food restaurant in Indonesia to introduce Drive Thru service, we are proud to see it continue to grow and become part of our customers’ everyday lives. This moment therefore gives us an opportunity to appreciate the sense of togetherness we have built over the years,” said Caroline Kurniadjaja, associate director of marketing at McDonald’s Indonesia.

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Beyond the nationwide Drive Thru participation, McDonald’s Indonesia staged vehicle convoys at 10 restaurants, drawing more than 770 participants from car, motorbike and cycling communities. Participants included Wuling, VW Beetle and EV car communities, as well as Yamaha Aerox, Honda PCX, Honda ADV, CBR, Vespa, motorbike EV and antique motorbike groups.

The brand also used the event to launch 10 new Stiker Drive Thru VIP designs, incorporating Indonesian-inspired visuals. Eight designs represent local cultural and regional references, alongside a batik design and a dedicated design for two-wheel users.

The stickers also introduced a functional loyalty element, with customers using the new designs able to receive free menu items or McDonald’s Indonesia merchandise when meeting specified purchase requirements.

At McDonald’s Artha Gading, the celebrations included representatives from Pondok Buntet Pesantren Cirebon and the local Kelurahan Kelapa Gading Timur, reflecting the brand’s emphasis on relationships with local communities and stakeholders.

The activation extended beyond automotive communities. McDonald’s Indonesia also ran McKids decorated bicycle competitions at the 10 participating restaurants, alongside Independence Day-themed games including sack races, cup-stacking and McMuffin feeding challenges.

Customer-facing activations included Lucky Drive surprises, a dedicated lane for Drive Thru Golden Pass holders and a Drive Thru Golden Lane available at 50 selected restaurants through the McDonald’s app.

The brand also distributed 1,000 portions of free Nasi Uduk McD across 10 restaurants, positioning the initiative as a community-sharing activity alongside the broader Independence Day celebrations.

Discover what's next in Indonesia's fast-moving digital landscape at DMA Indonesia 2026 on 13 October in Jakarta, where marketing leaders will explore how AI, creator ecosystems, social commerce, and omnichannel strategies are reshaping customer engagement and business growth.

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