Astra's car sales to grow by 10%

JAKARTA: PT Astra International, Indonesia's leading automotive producer, projects a 10 percent increase in their car sales this year to maintain last year's market share of some 45 percent.

"We will likely maintain last year's market share of 45 percent of the projected total national car sales of 520,000 units this year," said Astra corporate secretary Amnuddin.

The growth target is actually lower than last year's sales, that grew by 44 percent. In 2004, the company sold 211,970 units, from a 2003 figure of 147,074 units. In 2003, Astra's market share stood at 37.7 percent.

PT Astra International is a holding company with over 120 subsidiaries in 10 business sectors. Its core businesses are in the automotive industry.

Astra International president director Budi Setiadharma said the group would maintain its overall growth, not only from the automotive sector, by 15 percent this year. -- JP/003