November new vehicle sales falls 40%

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

New vehicle sales in the country fell 40 percent to 21,683 units in November due to the long Muslim holiday.

According to data released on Friday by the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo), passenger car sales fell 50 percent, from 4,955 in October to 2,479 units in November, while commercial vehicles accounted for 19,204 units, down 38 percent from 31,049 units in October.

The country's largest vehicle maker, PT Astra International, saw a 41 percent on-month decrease in domestic sales to 8,879 units in November.

However, the company still dominates the commercial car class through its Toyota brand, with 5,029 units sold in November, despite a drop from 7,958 in October.

Toyota also dominated the passenger car class, with 860 units sold in November, although this was a drastic drop from 2,385 units in October.

Car sales are a barometer of consumer confidence.

So far this year, Indonesian consumers have bought 326,225 new vehicles, while the association's 2003 sales target is 340,000 units.

Indonesian markets were closed between Nov. 22 and Nov. 27 for the extended Idul Fitri holiday, and Gaikindo reported that most customers bought cars in October ahead of the holidays.