Astra '03 new vehicle sales up 3.3%

Astra '03 new vehicle sales up 3.3%

JAKARTA: PT Astra International, the largest automotive company, on Thursday said its new vehicle sales, including exports to neighboring countries, rose 3.3 percent in 2003 to 182,555 units.

The company sold 176,752 cars in 2002.

Astra sold 147,074 new vehicles in Indonesia last year, capturing nearly a 42 percent market share.

A total 354,333 new vehicles were sold in the country in 2003, compared with 318,257 in 2002.

Astra's minivan Toyoto Kijang dominated the local market last year, with sales of 85,392 units.

Astra International, which makes automobiles with Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., Daihatsu Motor Corp. and European companies, expects its new vehicle sales to increase between 5 percent and 10 percent this year.

The company recently launched Toyota and Daihatsu minivans with engine sizes below 1,300 CC and has received back orders for the vehicles which will be delivered this month. --Dow Jones