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Today's Headlines Automotive Industry
The Indonesian government officially announced it will use the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) standard as the reference for the nation's local Indonesian National Standard (in Indonesian: Standardisasi Nasional Indonesia, or SNI) with regard to various automotive components.
The latest data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) show Indonesia's wholesale car sales rose 37.54 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 85,131 vehicles in July 2017. However, these data are distorted because the Ramadan and Idul Fitri celebrations fell in June this year, while they fell in July last year (implying there were much less workdays in July 2016). What were the 10 most sold cars in Indonesia in July 2017?
For several years stakeholders in Indonesia's automotive industry urged the government to cut taxes on sedan sales. Finally, the government seems willing to alter its policies. The sedan is categorized as a luxury good, implying it is subject to an additional 30-40 percent luxury goods tax. This makes the sedan vehicle more expensive compared to other car types and therefore there exists less demand for the Indonesian-made sedan, both on the domestic market and international market.
Five automotive brands from Japan controlled car sales in Indonesia in the first half of 2017 with a dominating (combined) market share of about 90 percent. Based on data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), Toyota, Daihatsu, Honda, Mitsubishi and Suzuki accounted for about 90 percent of total car sales in Indonesia during the January-June 2017 period. In total, 533,903 car units were sold in this six-month period.
Car sales in Indonesia in May 2017 were in line with expectations. The Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) said car sales in the month prior to Idul Fitri (the celebrations that mark the end of the Ramadan month) always tend to show a modest rise every year, specifically passenger cars.
Sales of buses (those used for commercial purposes) are growing sharply in Indonesia so far in 2017 and this gives a positive signal to factories. In fact, growth of bus sales, by far, outpaces growth of the whole automotive sector in the first couple of months of 2017. While total sales in Indonesia's automotive sector grew by a modest 5.72 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 282,596 units in the January-March 2017 period, sales of buses grew 30.43 percent (y/y) to 840 in the first four months of 2017.
The production of cars in Indonesia rose 11.97 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 319,241 units in the first quarter of 2017, a significant increase that indicates the economy is improving. Meanwhile, local manufacturers are convinced the low cost green car vehicle will continue to boost sales and strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesia's automotive industry.
Indonesian exports of completely built up (CBU) car units surged in the first quarter of 2017, a development that may indicate that global economic growth is improving (specifically in the export destination nations). Based on data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) Indonesia exported 56,371 units in Q1-2017, up 53.4 percent year-on-year (y/y) from 36,750 units in the same period one year earlier.
The declining trend of city car sales continues in Indonesia. In the first two months of 2017 sales of city cars fell 41.8 percent to 2,511 units on a year-on-year (y/y) basis. This is not a new phenomenon. Ever since the low cost green car (LCGC) was introduced to the Indonesian market in late-2013, city car sales have been on the decline. In full-year 2016 city car sales had fallen 38.4 percent (y/y). A city car is a small car designed to be used primarily in (con)urban areas.
Although Mercedes-Benz has a long history in Indonesia, it only opened its first body and paint service center in Southeast Asia's largest economy on Friday (31/03). The facility's exact location is the Cakrawala Automotif Rabhasa facility, plotted on 11,000 square meters of land in Tangerang (Banten). Here consumers can bring their Mercedez-Benz for authorized repair services with quality and safety assurance that is certified by Germany's Daimler, Mercedes' parent company.
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
