Toyota hopes to sell more models in tough Indonesian market<\/p>\n
Imanuddin Razak
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Gold Coast, Australia<\/p>\n
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\nWith its experience in sales and distribution, as well as
\nnetworking, car manufacturer Toyota plans to grab a larger share
\nof Indonesia's car market by introducing models that have sold
\nwell in other countries. Several of these models were introduced
\nto Southeast Asian journalists, including The Jakarta Post's
\nImanuddin Razak, during an event called The Toyota Great
\nMultipurpose Vehicle Adventure in Australia's Sydney and Gold
\nCoast in mid-March.
\n----------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
Tough trading conditions in the car industry, including constant
\nchanges in automotive technology, have not deterred car
\nmanufacturers across the globe, including Nagoya-based Toyota,
\nfrom competing in the potentially enormous, yet not fully
\nexploited market of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
People may be aware of the limited presence of Toyota's Lexus
\nluxury sedans; recent-entrant Camry sedans; and the enormous
\npresence of Land Cruiser jeeps of different generations, smaller
\nAltis\/Soluna and Vios sedans and -- most popular of all -- Kijang
\nvans, on Indonesian streets.<\/p>\n
In February 2005 alone, Toyota had a 31.7 percent market share
\nof Indonesia's automotive industry with 13,899 vehicles sold,
\ncompared with the same period last year when it sold 10,717 cars.<\/p>\n
PT Toyota Astra Motor, the distribution arm for Toyota in
\nIndonesia, recently revealed in its monthly report that its
\nincrease in sales this year was triggered by increasing sales of
\nthe latest Kijang Innova vans and the smaller Avanza vans.<\/p>\n
A continuous presence, long-term experience in sales and
\ndistribution, as well as strong networking in Indonesia are
\napparently the reason why the giant Japanese auto producer is
\ninterested in expanding its Indonesian market.<\/p>\n
\"Many other car producers have also introduced similar car
\ntypes as we're offering to potential buyers. However, we have the
\nbenefit of our long and continuous presence in Indonesia, as
\nindicated by our nationwide after-sales service and call centers
\nas well as dealers,\" Toyota Motor Asia senior vice president for
\nits marketing planning division, Shigeru Takayanagi, said on the
\nsidelines of a test-drive session at the Gold Coast Darlington
\nPark circuit and off-road tracks.<\/p>\n
People may remember that the appearance of Toyota cars in
\nIndonesia dates back to the early 1970s, when its early Land
\nCruiser jeeps hit the country's streets and roads, along with its
\npopular Corolla sedans.<\/p>\n
In the late 1970s, Indonesians also witnessed the production
\nand sale of the first generation of Toyota Kijang vans.<\/p>\n
European (mostly German), American (Ford and GM) and
\nAustralian vehicles (Holden sedans and pickup trucks) could be
\nseen on Indonesian city streets before the arrival of Japanese
\ncars. However, their presence has fluctuated since that time,
\nwhile Toyota has been a constant presence in Indonesia since the
\nearly 1970s.<\/p>\n
With the aim of at least maintaining its approximately 30
\npercent share of some 510,000 units on offer in Indonesia this
\nyear, Toyota introduced a number of its worldwide special utility
\nvehicles (SUVs) and multipurpose vehicles (MPVs, known within the
\ncompany as IMVs -- Innovative International Multipurpose
\nVehicles) during the event in Australia.<\/p>\n
A total of 27 4x2 and 4x4 cars were available for the session,
\nincluding the 4,000cc, V6, 24-valve Tacoma van and its bigger
\nbrother, the 4,700cc, V8, 32-Valve Tundra, both of which are sold
\nin the United States only; the currently Japan-made-only Alphard
\nHybrid van, whose variants can already be found on Jakarta
\nstreets; and two Toyota landmarks, the Land Cruiser, which
\nappeared in its two latest variants, the V8 DOHC 4V Land Cruiser
\n100 and the V6 DOHC 4V Land Cruiser Prado, and the popular six-
\ncylinder Land Cruiser 78.<\/p>\n
But the center of attention was the Indonesian-made Kijang
\nInnova, which is predicted to top Indonesia's car sales this year
\nand has been exported to other countries since November last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Also grabbing attention were three variants of the Thai-made
\nHilux minivans, which also sell well in the home country, and the
\nfour-cylinder 16V DOHC Intercooler VN Turbo Diesel Fortuner SUV,
\nthe latest version of which will enter the Indonesian market
\nlater this year.<\/p>\n
\"We know that most Indonesian people favor the Kijang compared
\nwith any other type of vehicle. But we've also been observing
\nslow changes in Indonesian consumers' behavior in choosing cars,\"
\nholding company Toyota Motor Corporation managing officer Yoshio
\nShirai said during a media presentation at Luna Park, Sydney.<\/p>\n
Takayanagi concurred and added that Toyota had decided to
\nproduce cars where the market was available and could absorb
\nthem.<\/p>\n
\"We've been planning to assemble passenger cars in ASEAN
\ncountries by 2010 ... we'll add an Asian nuance to those cars,\"
\nTakayanagi said.<\/p>\n
If the Fortuner, which has been produced in Thailand, and will
\nalso be produced in Argentina and South Africa this year, really
\nenters Indonesia in July, it will have to fight to get a piece of
\nthe SUV \"cake\" along with the other four brands that are already
\nin the SUV market -- the Nissan X-Trail, Honda CRV, Ford Escape
\nand Suzuki Escudo.<\/p>\n
Will the Fortuner follow the success of the Kijang Innova?<\/p>\n
Let's wait and see!<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/toyota-hopes-to-sell-more-models-in-tough-indonesian-market-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }