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Today's Headlines Automotive Industry
Like with most sectors, the automotive sector of Indonesia received a wave of fresh air as most of the COVID-19-related social and business restrictions were scrapped by the government at the end of 2022. And, when the government also scrapped the vaccine-booster requirement for traveling into, and across, the country in June 2023 we can argue that the COVID-19 crisis is truly over.
On Monday 04 January 2021 Indonesia Investments released its December 2020 report. The report zooms in on the key economic, political and social events that occurred in Indonesia in the month of December 2020. Special attention is given to Indonesia's 2020 regional elections, the latest cabinet reshuffle, and the electric vehicle.
On Wednesday (05/08/2020) Indonesia Investments released the July 2020 edition of its monthly report. In this edition, titled 'A Modest Rebound', we discuss the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the Indonesian economy, Indonesia's automotive industry, and a range of other topics.
Indonesia's car sales rose 11.1 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 95,892 vehicles (wholesale) in January 2018 according to the latest data from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo). This is a very promising start of the year as the January 2018 car sales figure is the highest January figure since 2014.
Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry emphasizes that manufacturers in the country's automotive industry do not need to be concerned about the implementation of European emission standards, the standards that define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles.
Chinese car manufacturers seem not afraid to compete with their Japanese counterparts on Indonesian soil. After Wuling Motors arrived in Indonesia in mid-2017, now another Chinese car-maker, Sokonindo Automobile, has started operations in Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest car market.
The Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) lowered its forecast for car sales in Indonesia in full-year 2017. Initially Gaikindo expected to see 1.1 million car sales in Indonesia this year. However, the target has now been revised to 1.06 million units. The revision was particularly attributed to weak sales within the (lower) middle class segment.
Based on the latest data from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), automotive sales in Indonesia rose 2.6 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 94,461 vehicles in October 2017 on the back of rising demand for commercial vehicles. Growing demand is boosted by recovering coal and crude palm oil (CPO) prices.
General Motors manufactured its last Holden car at the Adelaide factory on Friday (20/10), hence effectively ending the once-iconic Australian car industry. From now on Australians will have to buy cars that were imported from abroad. While other governments have been keeping national automotive industries alive after the financial crisis through bailouts, the Australian government saw no real economic reason to keep this industry alive.
The Indonesian government is preparing two locations - Kendal (Central Java) and Gresik (East Java) - as alternatives for the automotive manufacturing industry in Indonesia. Currently, West Java (specifically Karawang) is the nation's car manufacturing hub where most carmakers establish their manufacturing facilities.
Latest Columns Automotive Industry
The performance of Astra International, one of Indonesia's leading diversified conglomerates (but particularly known for being the dominant force in the country's automotive industry), is expected to improve next year on the arrival of new car models, estimated accelerated economic growth and its rivals' stagnating production capacity expansion. As such, Astra International should be able to increase its market share and feel less need to offer its cars to customers at discounted rates.
Indonesian car sales may rise up to ten percent (y/y) to 1.1 million vehicles in 2016, from an estimated 1 million this year, amid accelerating economic growth in Indonesia. Car sales in 2015 have been disappointing, declining 18 percent (y/y) to 853,008 units in the first ten months of 2015, due to people's weakening purchasing power. Sales in 2016 are expected to be boosted by sales of the low-cost green car (LCGC), which was introduced on the Indonesian market in late-2013, and the crossover utility vehicle, a car that has gained popularity recently.
Indonesian automotive group Indomobil Sukses Internasional is facing challenges in 2015. The listed company, affiliated with the Salim Group (one of Indonesia’s largest conglomerates), is plagued by intense competition in the car industry of Indonesia, while it also feels the negative impact of the weak rupiah (which is depreciating against the US dollar). Over 2014, the company posted a net loss of IDR 128.2 billion (USD $9.9 million), down significantly from net profit of IDR 532.5 billion it recorded in the preceding year.
Mahendra Siregar, Head of the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) is optimistic that realized investment in Indonesia can reach over IDR 100 trillion (USD $8.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2014, particularly supported by foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country's automotive and electronics sectors. Siregar uttered his optimistic view at the groundbreaking of the new Toyota factory in Karawang (West Java) on Tuesday (25/02). Foreign investors remain buoyant on the potential of Indonesia's rapidly expanding consumer force.
Despite higher car prices due to the depreciating rupiah exchange rate, domestic car sales in Indonesia rose 11 percent to 107,496 in January 2014 compared to the same month last year. January sales were particularly supported by sales of the low cost green car (LCGC) and low multipurpose vehicle (LMPV). Both these car types enjoy high popularity in Indonesia. In 2013, the Indonesian government provided tax incentives for the establishment of a domestic LCGC industry.
Indonesia's automotive industry experienced some drastic changes in recent years. Originally regarded as a mere production hub due to cheap productions costs (particularly wages), it changed into a major car sales market as per capita GDP continues to grow and gives rise to an expanding middle class. Since 2011, domestic car sales in Indonesia have reached record highs and given that the country's per capita car ownership is still relatively low, there is room for more growth. But Indonesia is also eager to become an important car exporting country.
In 2014, Indonesia is expected to see capital inflow of between USD $1 billion and USD $1.5 billion of funds for investments in the country's car components industry. About 20 to 30 companies are eager to expand or start business in this sector of Southeast Asia's largest economy (each investing about USD $50 million). Indonesia's car industry is attractive due to record high car sales in recent years (triggered by strong domestic GDP per capita growth) as well as double-digit export growth (although coming from a low base).
Indonesian car sales have already exceeded the one million mark in October 2013. In the January-October period, 1,018,786 car units were sold, a ten percent increase compared to car sales in the same period last year. Growing demand for cars in Indonesia indicates that this sector of Southeast Asia's largest economy is not influenced by current negative market sentiments, such as the sharply depreciated Indonesian rupiah exchange rate (against the US dollar), high inflation (8.32 percent yoy in October 2013), and slowing economic growth.
General Motors Company (GM), the American multinational holding corporation that engages in the automotive industry, aims to expand its partnership with China's SAIC Motor Corp by joining hands to enhance business activities in Indonesia. Recently, speculation emerged that both companies were drifting apart. However, both camps claim that the relationship has never been better. In fact, GM China and SAIC are opening four new plants in China which will add 1 million cars (per year) to the current production capacity of 3 million vehicles.
Car sales in Indonesia are expected to exceed the target set by the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) in 2013. The institution originally set a target of 1.1 million sold car vehicles in 2013, which is similar to the sales result in 2012. However, in September 2013 car sales recorded a new monthly record (115,921 sold units) after consumers sped up car sales as prices will increase in October. Up to the third quarter of 2013, total car sales have increased 11.2 percent compared to the same period last year.
Associated businesses Automotive Industry
