RI-Korean automotive firm

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Indauda Putra Nasional (INP), an Indonesia-South Korea join automotive manufacturing company, expects to start selling its cars later next year.

The company's director, Hutomo Mandala Putra, said here yesterday that he was optimistic about the prospect of INP's new 2,000 cc injection jeep branded Sportage despite the fierce competition in the domestic market.

Tommy, Hutomo's nick name, signed the join venture with Korean motor company Kia last year.

"We hope to produce a car whose price is lower than the other automobiles of the same class," he said when he presented a Sportage car to the Indonesia Motor Sports Association (IMI) in conjunction with the 1994 Indonesia Rally.

Kia's executive Kyung Seung-hwan said that a Sportage car costs US$12,000 in his country. He said that Kia's international markets include the United States, Africa, the Middle East.(amd)