Car makers optimistic about local market<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A number of automobile manufacturers have begun launching their
\nnew products here and are optimistic they will be able to garner
\nenough sales despite the current weak state of the economy and
\nsecurity problems.<\/p>\n
\"It's the right time to put out more new products. I believe
\nthe country is going to rebound quite shortly. We understand
\nthere are problems ... but these are not stopping us from being
\nvery successful,\" PT General Motors Indonesia president Luis F.F.
\nMadaleno told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the launching
\nof GM's new Chevrolet Tavera van.<\/p>\n
Luis said that the Chevrolet Tavera was only one of a series
\nof products that would be launched this year.<\/p>\n
Patrick Debrot, marketing and sales vice president of French
\nautomaker Renault SA, shared this view, adding that his firm's
\nalliance with Japan's Nissan Motor Co Ltd would provide an edge
\nin penetrating the local market.<\/p>\n
\"It will support the wholesaling of Renault products in
\nIndonesia and we see that Indonesia is a potential market for our
\nproducts,\" Patrick told a media briefing on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Renault's frontline products come within the small-car segment
\n-- the Clio and Kangoo -- and the monospace segment in the form
\nof the Scenic, which have been quite successful in Asia Pacific
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
The optimism was also shared by German car producer Audi,
\nwhich has just recently launched its sport cars -- the Audi A3
\n1.8 T and Audi A6, targeting young professionals.<\/p>\n
Wiwi Ho, chief executive officer of PT Garuda Mataram Motor,
\nthe sole distributor of Audi cars here, said in a statement that
\nthere had been a significant increase in demand for sporty cars.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bambang Trisula, chairman of the Association of
\nIndonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) said that this year's
\nsales would not be much different from last year, when around
\n300,000 units were sold.<\/p>\n
\"Our situation is no better than last year, but it is starting
\nto pick up,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
However, he said that the figures might be lower if the
\ngovernment failed to show its seriousness in maintaining law and
\norder.<\/p>\n
\"Security is still the main factor. If we keep having riots,
\ndemonstrations, it will certainly affect sales,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
While car producers expressed their optimism, they are
\napparently being very modest in their targets.<\/p>\n
Renault SA, which just reentered the Indonesian market in June
\nlast year, expects to sell 1,000 units this year, or five percent
\nof the country's completely built up (CBU) market.<\/p>\n
Last year, Renault managed to sell 44 units, which was quiet
\nan accomplishment considering that their products only hit the
\nmarket in December.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Chevrolet has set its 2002 target at 5,000 units,
\nincluding 3,000 units for the new Tavera.<\/p>\n
\"Our target is very conservative because we have to be
\ncareful. We believe that it can be exceeded, but we will have to
\ndo it step by step,\" Luis said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Audi expects a 40 percent increase over last year's
\nsales of 271 units.<\/p>",
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