Mercedes-Benz has had long presence here

This year may be the 35th anniversary of PT DaimlerChrysler Indonesia (DCI), which locally assembles and imports German marque Mercedes-Benz, but the brand's presence here has an even longer history.

The Mercedes-Benz marque first entered Indonesia with the Benz Phaeton model, which had a single cylinder, 2,000cc engine and was owned by Susuhunan Pakubuwono of Surakarta Palace.

The vehicle had a top power of only five horsepower (hp) but could accommodate eight people.

The Javanese king then ordered another car in 1907. This time, a Daimler Britse model with a 4-cylinder engine producing 45 hp.

At that time, Benz and Daimler models were sold separately as the two companies had yet to merge their businesses. The eventual merger took place in 1926.

The Mercedes-Benz Club Indonesia (MBIna) held on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 a series of activities to commemorate the 111th anniversary of the presence of Mercedes-Benz cars here.

MBIna president Ridwan Pohan told The Jakarta Post that the club consisted of 15 other clubs rather than individual enthusiasts.

"But, in total, we have between 800 and 1,000 persons," he said.

On Dec. 3., the club held its national congress to elect its officials at Hotel Atlet Century Park, Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Meanwhile, on Dec. 4, the club took part in a convoy of 111 Mercedes-Benz cars belonging to MBIna members across the nation, from the hotel heading to Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in front of the DCI office at the Deutsche Bank building.

The convoy ended up at Wisma Aldiron Dirgantara in Pancoran, South Jakarta with plenty of activities such as a spare-parts bazaar as well as the display of Mercedes-Benz cars produced between 1940 and 1996.

PT DCI participated by showing a replica of a classic Benz produced in 1886. Designed by Karl Benz, it used a single cylinder 954 cc engine with top power of 0.75 hp.

The three-wheeler's top speed was 15 kilometers per hour and it weighed only 265 kilograms.

-- Novan Iman Santosa