GM launches first model of CBU Chevrolet Blazer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As the competition in the local automobile
\nmarket heats up, General Motors Indonesia (GMI) launched on
\nWednesday its first completely built up (CBU) vehicle, the
\nChevrolet Blazer V6.<\/p>\n
GMI's director of sales, marketing and after-sales service,
\nKris A. Mayer, said the company was confident its new vehicle
\nwould be able to compete with other CBU automobiles, particularly
\nin the sport utility vehicle market.<\/p>\n
\"We'll do very well. We have better features and a competitive
\nprice compared to (our competitors), which range from slightly
\nbelow Rp 500 million (US$62,500) to Rp 800 million,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He identified the Cherokee Jeep, Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi
\nPajero as potential competitors to the company's Chevrolet Blazer
\nV6.<\/p>\n
The company is confident it will sell about 100 units of the
\nnew Chevrolet model by the end of this year given predicted
\nimprovements in consumer confidence.<\/p>\n
The Chevrolet Blazer V6 has a 4,300cc engine and comes with
\nelectric sliding sunroof, power folding mirrors, air bags,
\ndigital compass and outside temperature readout. The vehicle will
\nbe offered at Rp 499.5 million (about $58,750) on the road.<\/p>\n
In order to supplement its product portfolio as well as to
\ntake advantage of the current hype in the local market over
\nforeign-made cars, GMI will launch early next month another CBU
\nvehicle, the family wagon Zafira, Mayer said.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian market really differentiates CBU cars from the
\nlocally assembled ones, that's why we'll offer more to give them
\nbetter choices,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The country's car market has witnessed an influx of CBU
\nvehicles since the government decided in June to open the
\ndomestic market to all foreign-made vehicles.<\/p>\n
In the non-sedan passenger segment, various CBU multipurpose
\nvans and sport utility vehicles, such as Jeep's Cherokee and
\nWrangler, Land Rover's Discovery and Range Rover, Mitsubishi's
\nPajero and KIA's Sportage, are vying to win consumers' attention.<\/p>\n
In the past, Indonesia protected the local automobile industry
\nby imposing heavy import duties and luxury taxes on imported
\nvehicles. It opened the market in June last year, but placed a
\npartial restriction in February this year on the import of CBU
\nvehicles with engine capacities exceeding 4,000cc or with price
\ntags over $4,000, a policy which was revoked in June.<\/p>\n
The government may still take steps to protect the local
\nmarket and is considering imposing an import duty of between 130
\npercent and 135 percent on imported vehicles. At present, CBU
\ncars are subject to import tariffs of between 65 percent and 80
\npercent depending on engine capacity.<\/p>\n
Mayer said the sale of CBU models was expected to help boost
\nthe company's sales figures, although CBU models were predicted
\nto account for only 5 percent of GMI's total sales for 2000.<\/p>\n
He said the launch of the Chevrolet, which resembles GMI's
\nlocally assembled Opel Blazer, would not necessarily harm the
\nsale of the Opel Blazer.<\/p>\n
\"Each of them has a different segment. The Chevrolet Blazer is
\ndedicated to the upper market segment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
GMI currently assembles and sells only one brand, the Opel,
\nwhich comes in three versions, namely the Vectra, Optima and
\nBlazer.<\/p>\n
In the global market, General Motors produces a number of
\nother brands besides the Opel and Chevrolet, such as Cadillac,
\nBuick, GMC, Hummer, Holden, Saturn, Pontiac, SAAB and Vauxhall.<\/p>\n
GMI communications manager Helena Abidin said the company
\nexpected to see its sales hit 7,000 units this year, higher than
\nin 1997, which was the early stages of the economic crisis, when
\nthe company sold 3,600 units.<\/p>\n
\"The 7,000-unit target is only for our locally assembled cars,
\nnot including the CBUs,\" she said. \"We're quite optimistic about
\nthis target as we've already sold 3,286 units as of July.\"<\/p>\n
Domestic car sales, excluding CBU cars, increased to 28,267
\nunits in July from 27,492 in June, according to data from the
\nIndonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo).<\/p>\n
The accumulative domestic car sales, exluding CBUs, since
\nJanuary is 154,934 units. (cst)<\/p>",
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