Indonesia to export Blazer to South Africa this year

By Matthew Allen

INDONESIA's automotive export income will get a significant boost when Opel begins Blazer exports to South Africa later this year.

PT General Motors Buana Indonesia (GMBI), the local assembler and distributor of Opel vehicles, plans to ship between 300 and 500 Blazer sport utilities to South Africa as the part of an ongoing and increasing export drive.

GMBI director of sales and marketing, Terry Johnsson, said that so far it had only exported limited numbers of vehicles for approval into individual markets.

"We have type approval for many African nations and we expect to start exports on a regular basis by July," Terry said.

GMBI is aiming at annual exports of 1000-1200 vehicles.

Domestically, 1996 sales of Blazer were 3193 and first-quarter sales this year have reached 1048.

In addition to the African markets, GMBI is also considering exporting the Blazer into the Asian region.

GMBI would join other Indonesian car-assemblers which have been exporting throughout the region for several years.

PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) has exported engine blocks and more than 6500 units of the popular Kijang model for the past decade.

Isuzu sells the Panther in the Philippines, where it is badged as the Hi Lander.

The general manager of the Isuzu distributor PT Tjahja Sakti Motor Corporation, Bintoro Tjitrowirjo, said the company was looking for opportunities to sell the car in other Asian countries.

"Apart from the Hi Lander being left-hand drive, everything is exactly the same," Bintoro said.

On the domestic front, Isuzu Panther sales during the first three months jumped almost 3000 units to 9919.

Bintoro said the launch of the Kijang had assisted sales of the Panther by creating greater interest in the commercial vehicle segment.

Components of the Daihatsu Espass, another Astra vehicle, are also exported to Malaysia.

Bintoro said the company would like to continue playing a part in the region but domestic sales, rather than exports, would continue to be Astra's main focus.

"We are not like somebody who wants to sell 4000 units a month," he said.