Astra resumes work after floods

Astra resumes work after floods

JAKARTA (JP): PT Astra International, Indonesia's biggest car maker, resumed car production early this week after a one week stoppage as its assembly plant was brought to a halt during the recent worst flood ever seen by the city.

The company announced here yesterday that the flood inflicted a loss of Rp 5 billion (US$2.2 million) on the widely diversified company whose car plant is located in Sunter, North Jakarta.

This includes the losses from the damage of 375 units in warehouses in Sunter -- one of the areas in Greater Jakarta which was most adversely affected by the floods.

"We obviously won't sell damaged cars to the public, that would damage our company's image. They will only be used for Astra's own operation," Astra International President T.P. Rachmat said.

Rachmat made the remarks to dispel rumors that Astra would discount the cars hit by the recent floods.

He pointed out that the losses were been covered by an insurance company which is not a member of the Astra Group.

"In the future we'll make sure we're better prepared," he said. (13)