South East Asian Automotive News

PT Astra International, the Indonesian conglomerate, said that its car sales in March 1998 rose to 4,892 units, from 4,157 units in February 1998 but, fell 16,628 units year on year. Astra is in the midst of a restructuring plan. It will sell non-car businesses and cut costs by shutting down one of its two auto assembly lines. Astra is the exclusive distributor of Toyota in Indonesia. (April 28^th 1998)

PT Astra International is hoping to sell 600,000 motorbikes and 75,000 cars this year, representing a significant drop in sales. Astra's president director said he expected asset sales to total between US$100m and US$150m over the next few months. In 1997 Astra's sales represented some 50% of the 1.7 million motorbikes and 400,000 passenger cars in Indonesia. (June 1^st 1998)

Nissan Motor Co Ltd of Japan is delaying its plan to build an engine plant in Indonesia. Construction of the plant was scheduled to start in Spring 1998. The project had received local government approval in December 1997 but Nissan had not yet set up a JV. The plant was to manufacture passenger car engines and engine parts near Jakarta with an initial US$63m investment. (May 20^th 1998)