Timor distributor drops sales target from 4,000 to 2,500<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Timor Distributor Nasional, the distributor
\nof Timor cars has lowered its sales target from 4,000 a month to
\nbetween 2,500 and 3,000 a month because of low domestic demand.<\/p>\n
The company's new president director, Soemitro Soerachmad,
\nsaid yesterday sales plunged to 980 units last month from 3,300
\nunits.<\/p>\n
The high sales in January, which were above the company's
\ntarget, was because of the traditional buying spree before Idul
\nFitri, he said.<\/p>\n
The post-Idil Fitri slump was also normal, he said.<\/p>\n
"Thus, the fall in sales last month was not only experienced
\nby Timor but also other automotive companies," Soemitro said.<\/p>\n
Since October Timor Distributor had sold 11,200 of the 16,000
\nSephia sedans it imported from South Korea's Kia Motors. It plans
\nto import 45,000 sedans this year. The Sephia sedans are
\nrelabeled here as the Timor S515.<\/p>\n
Soemitro said the company planned to sell 45,000 cars this
\nyear but was pessimistic this could be achieved in the present
\nmarket.<\/p>\n
He said Timor Distributor was targeting big buyers like state-
\nowned companies, big private companies and government offices to
\nlift sales.<\/p>\n
Soemitro promised they would not be coerced into to buying
\nTimor cars.<\/p>\n
The Timor national car project was undertaken by President
\nSoeharto's youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, via his company PT
\nTimor Putra Nasional.<\/p>\n
The project has caused controversy because Hutomo was granted
\ntax and tariff breaks to import cars from its partner Kia Motors
\npending the completion of Timor Putra's manufacturing plant in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Timor Putra and Kia started building a plant in Cikampek, West
\nJava, earlier this year.<\/p>\n
The project has drawn protests from Japan, the United States
\nand the European Union. The World Trade Organization has yet to
\nsettle the dispute.<\/p>\n
Soemitro said Timor Putra had bought the patent of Sephia cars
\nfrom Kia. The agreement will be fully implemented when Timor
\nPutra starts making the cars at its Cakampek plant next year.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement on patent purchase Kia receives a
\npercentage of the sales of the Timor S515 as payment for the
\npatent.<\/p>\n
Timor Putra is entitled to sell the cars domestically only. It
\nneeded special approval from Kia to export the cars.<\/p>\n
Timor can freely export cars it makes which are different from
\nSephia sedans.<\/p>\n
"The car is considered different from Sephia type however
\nsmall the changes we make in the platform, like using different
\nbumpers," he said.<\/p>\n
Soemitro said Timor Putra would launch a Jeep Timor 520, and a
\nnew Timor sedan, Timor S 515i, soon.<\/p>\n
Soemitro has replaced Soeparto Soejatmo as president director.
\nSoeparto has been appointed chairman of Timor's research and
\ndevelopment department. (jsk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/timor-distributor-drops-sales-target-from-4000-to-2500-1447893297",
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