Ford appointed Thai Company for aftersales

JAKARTA. Amid the investigation by Directorate General of Customs, PT Ford Motor Indonesia (FMI) has appointed Thai company RMA Group to provide aftersales services for consumers in Indonesia.

General Manager of PT Global Fleet Sales Indonesia (RMA Group) said that the company is still formulating the details of contract with Ford Motor. It is expected that the drafting process will complete by the end of this year. “Under the new contract, we will be the official service and spare parts provider for Ford’s consumers”, Diana told KONTAN on Friday (16/9).

In Thailand, RMA supplies spare parts and provides modification services for numbers of special car brands. RMA claims to have partnerships with Mercedez Benz, Land Rover, Mazda, Chevrolet, and other companies.

RMA Group has started its business in Indonesia in 2008. The company focused on providing modification services for vehicles for specific operational purposes. At that time, RMA built automotive assembling and modification facilities in Marunda.

According to Communication Director of Ford Motor Indonesia (FMI) Lea Kartika Indra said that FMI previously has built cooperation with RMA in vehicles modification.

Dealers will fight back

FMI’s decision to appoint RMA as the sole suppliers and aftersales services provider in Indonesia has disappointed 31 dealers of Ford in Indonesia.

Previously, FMI has  mentioned to appoint the consortium of the 31 dealers as the representative of FMI. “Unfortunately, FMI did not discuss with dealers about the appointment (of RMA Group)”, lawyer of the 31 dealers Harry Ponto told Kontan on Sunday (18/9).

Harry said that FMI did not appreciate local partners, who have done lot of efforts to support Ford’s sales in Indonesia.

As an information, on behalf of the 31 dealers, Harry Ponto has filed summon and IDR1 trillion of compensation to FMI, Ford Motor Company (FMC) America, and Ford International Services. “There will be discussion about this matter. We expect this is not only a lips service”, Harry said.

In addition to the dealers, Ford is also having an issue with Directorate of Customs on the allegation of luxurious tax underpayment. 

(Translator: Muhammad Farid)