Jakarta Auto Expo next week

JAKARTA (JP): Without the participation of the two most powerful local automotive companies, the eighth Jakarta Auto Expo will carry on next week, an executive of the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association said yesterday.

The association's chairman, Herman Latif, said that Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo is scheduled to officially open the one-week exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center on July 15.

Herman declined to comment on the planned absence of Toyota Astra Motor and Indomobil, saying only, "I can understand their reasons".

Industry sources say the two powerful vehicle assemblers are not going to participate because they are preparing for August's Indonesian Products Exhibition, which occurs once every five years.

Jakarta Auto Expo, which will cost Rp 1.25 billion (US$560 million) to mount, is expected to attract seven local automotive assemblers, including Krama Yudha, Jakarta Motors, General Motor Buana Indonesia, Stars Auto Dinamika, Citra Mobil Nasional and Indonesia Republik Motor Co., 15 component manufacturers, four car audio manufacturers and 18 automotive-related companies.

"We want to make this exhibition an international-class automotive event," Herman said, adding that the exhibition would display not only locally-produced vehicles but also a number of foreign-made "future" cars, including the Chrysler Neon, Dodge Viper, Opel Corsa, Mercedes Benz S-320 L, Hyundai Accent and Daewoo sedans. (rid)