Indonesia remains the biggest market for cars in the ASEAN region. Based on the latest data from the ASEAN Automotive Federation a total of 3.16 million cars were sold in the ASEAN region in 2016. Around 33 percent of these total sales occurred in Indonesia, the largest economy among ASEAN countries. In 2016 a total of 1.06 million vehicles were sold in Indonesia. On second place came Thailand with 768,788 sold cars. However, in terms of car production, Thailand remains on pole position in the ASEAN region.

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In February 2017 domestic car sales in Indonesia rose 9.6 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 96,722 vehicles (from 88,208 sold vehicles in the same month one year ago), supported by the popularity of the Astra Toyota Calya and Astra Daihatsu Sigra (both are low-cost green cars) as well as strengthening purchasing power in the regions outside Java due to rising commodity prices. Also in the first month of 2017 Indonesian car sales grew on an annual basis, implying there rises optimism about Indonesia's automotive sector after having experienced two bleak years.

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The utilization of Indonesia's installed car production capacity is expected to fall from 58 percent in 2016 to 55 percent in 2017 as the expansion of domestic manufacturing capacity is not in line with growth of domestic car sales and car exports. Indonesia's car production capacity rose 14 percent (y/y) to 2.2 million units in 2017 due to the start of operations at two factories (owned by Mitsubishi and Wuling). However, the actual car production figure of Indonesia is estimated to reach 1.2 million units only in 2017 (up 9 percent from 1.1 million units in the preceding year).

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Passenger car sales in Indonesia are estimated to rise 11.5 percent per year in the 2017-2021 period supported by Indonesia's expanding middle class. This conclusion originates from research that was conducted by London-based BMI Research. Meanwhile, business consulting firm Frost and Sullivan sees Indonesian car sales rise 5 percent (y/y) to 1.11 million vehicles in 2017 supported by the popular low cost green cars and multipurpose vehicles.

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Automotive manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation already realized 70 percent of its total of IDR 20 trillion (approx. USD $15 billion) worth of investment commitments in Indonesia. Japan-based Toyota will materialize its investment commitments gradually up to 2019. Warih Andang Tjahjono, Vice President Director at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMI), said his company invested IDR 10 trillion in late-2016, both in the form of a capital injection and for additional production facilities.

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Indonesia's car sales rose 3.7 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 974,972 vehicles in the first 11 months of 2016, improving from 940,027 sold vehicles in the same period one year ago. Jongkie Sugiarto, Chairman of the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), said this year's rising car sales in Indonesia are primarily supported by the launch of various new vehicles. He added Gaikindo's 2016 car sales target of 1.05 million could still be achieved, provided December's car sales will be more than 75,000 units.

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Car sales in Indonesia rose 4 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 91,846 units in October 2016 compared to 88,408 vehicles in the same month one year earlier. Growth is attributed to the stabilizing economy of Indonesia and the launch of several new car models (that managed to entice consumers). New data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) show that Indonesia's car sales totaled 874,703 units in the first ten months of 2016, up 2.5 percent (y/y) from 853,089 cars in the same period one year ago.

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Car sales in Indonesia grew 2.4 percent to around 783,000 vehicles in the first nine months of 2016 from 764,000 units sold in the same period one year earlier. Improving car sales this year are attributed to the launch of new low cost green car (LCGC) models - including the Toyota Calya and Daihatsu Sigra - at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show 2016, held between 11-21 August 2016 near Jakarta. Demand for both models, distributed by the Astra Group, is high, reflected by the two-month waiting list.

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Nissan Motor Indonesia (NMI), the Indonesia-based local unit of Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer Nissan Motor Company Ltd, started construction of a new engine and transmission parts plant in Purwakarta (West Java). The plant, which will be constructed at NMI's existing facilities in Purwakarta, covers 3,000 of square meters in size and requires an investment of around IDR 435 billion (approx. USD $33.2 million). The plant is designed to have a production capacity of 96,000 units per year.

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Sales of low cost green cars (LCGCs) are estimated to boom in Indonesia this year, supported by the launch of the Toyota Calya and Daihatsu Sigra. These multi-purpose vehicles are expected to become popular on the Indonesian market as they are relatively cheap (in the range of IDR 110 - 150 million) and have a maximum passenger capacity of seven people. According to analysts the LCGC will control 20 percent of Indonesia's car sales market before the year-end. Especially, first-time car buyers show a preference for the LCGC.

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Car sales in Indonesia continued to decline. Based on the latest data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) Indonesian car sales (delivery to dealers) fell around 10 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 84,885 vehicles in the first month of the year from 94,194 units in January 2015. Retail sales, on the other hand, showed a 1 percentage point growth to 82,423 vehicles over the same period.

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The Indonesian government approved the request of Indonesia's automotive sector to be exempted from the anti-dumping duties that have been imposed on imports of steel from specific countries. Through Finance Ministry Regulation No. 65/2013 on Anti-Import Duties, the government set import duties - ranging between 7 and 55.6 percent - for steel imports from China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam in an effort to protect the domestic steel manufacturing industry amid a global steel oversupply (particularly caused by a supply glut in China).

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Whereas the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), expects Indonesia's car sales to rise five percent (y/y) in 2016 on the back of improving economic conditions, US-based consulting firm Frost & Sullivan expects to see a 4.3 percent decline in the country's car sales this year as continued rupiah depreciation and persistently low commodity prices undermine Indonesians' purchasing power.

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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.

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The structure of Indonesia's automotive industry remains weak as it is too dependent on imports of raw materials, making sales prices of cars highly vulnerable to the volatile Indonesian rupiah. The automotive industry has been one of the many local industries that has been plagued by Indonesia's economic slowdown and fragile rupiah (amid looming tighter monetary policy in the USA) as people's purchasing power has weakened. In the first ten months of 2015, Indonesian car sales stood at a total of 853,008 units, down 18 percent from car sales in the same period last year.

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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.

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Car sales in Indonesia declined 8 percent to 98,198 units in May 2014 from 106,811 units in the previous month. The Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) said that the decline was the direct consequence of several public holidays (International Labour Day and the commemorations of Buddha’s birthday as well as ascensions of Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ). These holidays caused a lower car production rate and a reduced number of car deliveries to wholesale dealers.

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According to a survey of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), 44.9 percent of respondents assessed Indonesia as the most promising investment destination for the next three years. The respondents in this survey involved 500 Japanese companies that engage in international businesses. For Indonesia it is the first time in 21 years that it forms the preferred choice of overseas investments for Japanese companies, thus replacing China. In 2013, Japan already dominates foreign direct investment in Indonesia.

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Astra International, Indonesia's largest listed company by market capitalization, presented its Q1-2013 financial results yesterday. The company, which represents the dominating force in Indonesia's automotive sector, posted a seven percent fall in net earnings (YoY) to IDR 4,310 trillion (USD $444.3 million) amid Indonesia's rising labour costs, weak commodity prices, increased competition in the country's car sector and effects of new minimum down-payment regulations in automotive Shariah-financing.

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