Small rise predicted in sales of luxury cars
Small rise predicted in sales of luxury cars
Sandy Darmosumarto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
European luxury car makers have set conservative sales targets
in the country for 2004 due to expectation of political and
social upheavals related to the general elections.
Many manufacturers predict that high-income consumers will
postpone investment in luxury passenger cars until after the
elections.
Deputy director of marketing planning and communications with
PT DaimlerChrysler Distribution Indonesia Yuniadi Hartono told
The Jakarta Post over the weekend, "the new election process will
take a longer period to complete. People are afraid to drive
luxury cars for security reasons."
"Mercedes-Benz's sales target for the current year is 2000
vehicles. In 2003, the company sold slightly more than 2000
cars," he added.
Some are optimistic of achieving sales growth despite possible
falling consumer confidence due to the elections.
PT Garuda Mataram Motor, the distributor of Audi cars,
believes its customers, which are from the middle to upper
segments of the market, "make purchasing decisions largely based
on individual needs as opposed to the political situation".
"Audi sales in 2004 may reach around 200 units. The brand sold
around 155 cars last year. We aim to increase the contribution of
the A3 and A4 models to the firm's overall sales by 10 percent.
Both models accounted for 60 percent of total sales last year,"
head of public relations of Garuda Mataram Wanny Bhakti said.
Head of public relations with PT BMW Indonesia Helena Abidin
told the Post that growth in the market segment for premium cars
would likely be flat.
She predicted that a total of 5,000 units would be sold this
year. Sales of premium cars in the last three years have been
within the range of 4,000 to 5,000 units.
Volvo, on the other hand, aims to increase sales to 500 units
this year from around 350 last year.
The brand hopes to use the sporty S60 model to reach the
younger generation within the market segment. Additionally, it
aims to expand its market share through the popular XC90.
President director of PT Indomobil Sukses Internasional Gunadi
Sindhuwinata told the Post, "the low market share of Volvo is due
to the brand's conservative automobile designs, which cater to
older executives looking for exclusivity."
Indomobil has a 100 percent stake in both the Audi and Volvo
brands.
Tryfena Sri Rahayoe, marketing communications specialist with
Jaguar's distributor, PT Grandauto Dinamika, said that Jaguar
expected sales figures in 2004 would be broadly similar to last
year's 200 units.
According to data from the Association of Indonesian
Automotive Manufacturers (GAIKINDO), as of November last year,
Mercedes-Benz led car sales in the premium market with 1,864
units followed by BMW with 1,551. Volvo was third with 251 units,
while Jaguar held the penultimate spot with 184. Audi wrapped up
the list with 140 cars sold.