Agreement on 2,000 buses for city signed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Amid doubts over the ability of PT Texmaco
\nPerkasa Engineering to produce high quality buses and the
\nuncertainty of their sales, the Jakarta chapter of the
\nOrganization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) signed a
\nmemorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday with the company to
\nhelp market 2,000 Perkasa buses to city bus operators here.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after signing the MoU, Organda Jakarta
\nchairman Aip Sjarifuddin said the Perkasa buses are \"good enough\"
\nsince they are equipped with German-made Steier engines.<\/p>\n
More importantly, he added, about 80 percent of their
\ncomponents are locally made.<\/p>\n
\"What is important for Organda is that we buy buses of good
\nquality for a reasonable price,\" Aip said.<\/p>\n
However, he insisted that Organda's members, comprising of 13
\nexisting privately-run city bus operators and the only state-
\nowned PPD bus firm, are still worried about the qualifications of
\nTexmaco since the company is widely known as a producer of trucks
\nrather than buses.<\/p>\n
None of bus operators here have shown an interest in
\npurchasing the Texmaco-made Perkasa buses which are expected to
\nreplace most of the city's aging buses.<\/p>\n
The city administration initially planned to import buses from
\nChina but canceled the idea after the Ministry of Trade and
\nIndustry refused to lower the import taxes for the buses.<\/p>\n
According to Aip, the city bus operators here are willing to
\npurchase buses from any parties, including those from Texmaco or
\nChina, as long as the vehicles meet the requirements set by the
\noperators.<\/p>\n
The MoU was signed by Aip and Texmaco Group Chief Commissioner
\nMarimutu Sinivasan at the City Hall. Among the witnesses were
\nMinister of Industry and Trade Lt. Gen. (ret). Luhut B.
\nPanjaitan, Governor Sutiyoso, and the City Land Transportation
\nAgency (DLLAJ) Chief Buyung Atang.<\/p>\n
According to Buyung, Texmaco -- as stated in the deal -- would
\nprovide 2,000 buses over a period of two years, while Organda is
\nobligated to help market the buses.<\/p>\n
\"Texmaco is also obligated to provide after-sales service,
\nspare-parts and a leasing package for the buyers, while Organda
\nhas to help them sell the buses to the 14 bus companies operating
\nin the capital,\" Buyung said.<\/p>\n
\"From what Texmaco has told us, the state-owned Bank Rakyat
\nIndonesia (BRI) has agreed to provide a credit scheme for 500
\nbuses,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Each of the 10.5-meter-long Perkasa buses would have a
\ncapacity of 55 seats plus room for 10 standing passengers, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The city currently needs around 5,000 buses to replace the
\naging buses.<\/p>\n
Jakarta currently has 2,028 buses, including minibuses, which
\nhave been serving passengers for more than 20 years, and 1,556
\nothers that have been roaring up and down the capital's roads for
\nat least 15 years.<\/p>\n
The vehicles to be imported from China are of two sizes,
\nnamely 54-seat buses and 26-seat minibuses. The first type are
\nbeing offered at Rp 250 million (US$29,760) each, while the
\nminibuses will sell for Rp 160 million each.<\/p>\n
Buyung said that the remaining 3,000 buses needed to replace
\nthe old city buses would likely be shipped from China.<\/p>\n
\"The ministry of trade and industry has agreed to lower the
\nimport tax from 40 percent to five or 10 percent. But the buses
\nshould be completely knocked down vehicles to help boost local
\nauto assemblers,\" Buyung said.<\/p>\n
Sinivasan told journalists that his buses cost Rp 270 million
\n(US$ 30,000) each. Texmaco, he added, plans to market the Perkasa
\nbuses to other cities across the country. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/agreement-on-2000-buses-for-city-signed-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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