Toyota's sales rise 100 percent in April

Toyota's sales rise 100 percent in April

JAKARTA (JP): PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) sold 2,287 cars last
month, a 100 percent increase on March's figure, the company
announced yesterday.

TAM, the automotive division of publicly listed PT Astra
Internasional, said in a statement that its total sales from
January through April were 10,804, about 34.4 percent of the
total domestic car sales.

The rise was mainly due to the sales of Toyota's popular
Kijang van which in April totaled 2,081 vehicles.

Kijang's sales made up 61.2 percent of the month's total
market for commercial cars in its category, it said.

The company also reported "surprising" sales of its New
Corolla 1.8, which was launched at the end of March.

Total New Corolla sales from March 25 to the end of April were
221 cars, 141 of which were sold last month, the statement said.

Despite the growth, Toyota's sales in April were significantly
down compared to the same period last year.

Its Kijang sales dropped 70 percent from 7,000 in April last
year, while its Starlet sales tumbled 80 percent to 22 vehicles.

Land Cruiser sales fell 64 percent year on year to 34 cars,
while Corolla sales dropped 67 percent.

TAM did not sell any Coronas or Dyna light trucks last month
while in the same month last year it sold 78 Coronas and 55
Dynas.

The company's car exports, however, have risen significantly
so far this year.

The company said its total exports in April were US$2.5
million.

Exports of the completely-built-up Kijang in the January-to-
April period rose 42 percent compared to the same period in 1997
to 269 cars.

But exports of the 7K engine were down, to 5,272 during this
year's first four months from 9,562 in the same period last year.

Exports of 5K Cylinder Blocks were down 19 percent to 7,100
year-on year from the same period this year.

The engines are exported to Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and
Vietnam. (das)