Australian 4WD maker ventures into Indonesia
Australian 4WD maker ventures into Indonesia
By Russell Williamson
AUSTRALIAN specialty four-wheel-drive vehicle manufacturer,
Oka Motor Company, is hoping to start building its unique
vehicles with a joint-venture partner in Indonesia by the middle
of next year.
The company presently builds vehicles at its factory in Perth,
Western Australia, which are highly sought after by mining,
tourist and military operators.
The rugged vehicles have been designed to tackle the worst
terrain on offer and are exported to countries in Africa, Asia,
North America, South America and the Middle East.
Oka has already had a number of vehicles under evaluation in
Indonesia and recently shipped two new vehicles built to order to
customers here.
The chief executive officer of Oka, Mike Walker, said although
he could not name the joint venture partner as negotiations were
yet to be finalized, he was confident of the two companies
building a successful business together.
"We are looking at Indonesia as being a good profit center for
us," Walker said.
He said the push into Indonesia was part of a worldwide
campaign by the company to make exports from Australia the major
part of its business over the next 12 months to 18 months.
"At the moment, it is about 80 percent Australian and 20
percent overseas exports but that will turn the opposite and
become 80 percent overseas and 20 percent domestic," Walker said.
"We are targeting certain countries around the world like
Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa,
India and Pakistan," he said.
The vehicles, which will be built in Indonesia, will be based
on the same 2.5 tonne full-time four-wheel-drive vehicle the
company produces in Australia.
The Oka is a forward-control vehicle built on a ladder-frame
chassis and offers a wide range of body styles from single and
double-cab chassis through to a 13-seat bus.
Power comes from a 4000cc Perkins turbocharged V8 diesel
engine driving all four wheels.
With high ground clearance and a roll-over protection
structure similar to that found on tractors, the Oka has found
favor with companies operating in diverse and difficult
conditions.
In addition to this vehicle, Oka may also add a smaller two-
wheel-drive vehicle dubbed the "rural transport vehicle" which is
currently being developed in a joint venture with Indian
manufacturer, Hindustan Motors.
The vehicle has been designed to carry both passengers and
goods and will be powered by a 2000cc Isuzu diesel engine driving
through a locally developed manual gearbox, both of which are
currently manufactured in India.
The vehicle is expected to go into production in India next
year and could be built by other Oka joint ventures, including
the Indonesian operation, at a later stage.
Oka is also looking at the possibility of establishing an
assembly operation in Malaysia to further boost its international
profile.
The company was formed in 1986 and has gone through some
turbulent times, the latest being fending off a takeover bid
earlier this year.
However, Walker said an injection of several million dollars
capital and the prospect of increased business overseas augured
well for the company.
"Morale took a terrible battering when things were at their
lowest, but a new optimism runs right through the company,"
Walker said.
"I am confident the size and capacity of our national and
international sales network will double in the near future, as
more people realize just how good the Oka really is," he said.