Kawasaki launches new bike

Kawasaki launches new bike

JAKARTA (JP): PT Kawasaki Motor Indonesia launched its first "Kaze" wind-model motorcycle on the local market yesterday.

Asril Noer, secretary to the state minister of investment, officially launched the first motorcycle at the company's assembly plant in Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta.

Kawasaki Indonesia was established in February last year with a paid-up capital of US$10 million. It is 51 percent owned by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan, 29 percent by PT Danmotors Vespa Indonesia, 15 percent by PT Bimantara Cakra Nusa and five percent by PT Sumber Selatan Nusantara.

"The presence of Kawasaki Heavy Industries here indicates that Indonesia is still an attractive site for foreign investment," Asril said.

He said that foreign investment had almost tripled last year to US$23.7 billion, as compared with the previous year. As of March 15, this year's foreign investment had already reached $10.8 billion, he said.

The company's chief commissioner, Carlo H. Tabalujan, said the company had invested some $40 million in its assembly plant, which is able to turn out 48,000 motorcycles per year.

The company aims to sell some 25,000 motorcycles this year, he said, adding that Kawasaki Indonesia would market its products, not only in Indonesia, but also in a number of neighboring countries.

The growth of motorcycle production in Southeast Asia is considered to be among the highest in the world. Indonesia recorded 20.16 percent growth last year with the production of 623,880 units, as compared with 18.04 percent growth in Thailand with 1.02 million units and 8.49 percent growth in Malaysia with 272,918 units.

Indonesia is expected to produce some 895,000 motorcycles this year, 1.02 million next year, 1.35 million in 1997, 1.35 million in 1998, 1.5 million in 1999 and 1.8 million in year 2000. (rid)