Domestic car sales drop 17 percent

AUTO SALES - JAKARTA. Domestic car sales dropped 17.8 percent year-on-year to 84,029 vehicles in April from 102,258 in the same month last year, according to a statement issued by the Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo).

The association also recorded a 5 percent month-to-month (mtm) decrease in sales in April from 90,198 vehicles sold in March.

Some carmakers -- Toyota, Honda and Suzuki – recorded increased sales in April, while the sales of Mitsubishi, Nissan and Daihatsu decreased in April, the association reported.

Toyota reported sales of 29,546 units in April from 28,917 units the month before. Honda's sales jumped 43 percent from 8,144 units in March to 11.631 units in April, while Suzuki's sales increased from 6.291 units in March to 7,677 units in April.

Toyota was in top position among the five carmakers in terms of sales in April, with 29,564 vehicles sold, followed by Daihatsu (16,126), Honda (11,631), Mitsubishi (10,076) and Suzuki (7,677).

PT Mitsubishi Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI) president director Naoya Nakamura said its small multipurpose vehicle Xpander had proved to be company success in developing its business in Indonesia.

Mitsubishi Xpander sales hit a record 100,000 units in the last 18 months, he said.