The discourse on Indonesia needing to have domestically made cars has surfaced again. This discourse was voiced again by the Minister of Defense of the Indonesian Cabinet, Maju Prabowo, when he attended the Workshop of 100 Indonesian Economists, Wednesday (8/11/2023) yesterday. At that time, Prabowo said he was making a strategy called the national transformation strategy.
From there he wants Indonesia to become a producing country. Including automotive manufacturers who can produce their own cars and motorbikes.
“We want Indonesia to make and have cars made in Indonesia. We want Indonesia to have and make Indonesian motorbikes, Indonesian TVs, Indonesian computers, Indonesian watches, everything made in Indonesia by Indonesian children, that’s our goal,” he said.
Indonesia itself is actually not very familiar with making cars domestically. Several of the nation’s subsidiary companies have even made cars domestically.
It’s just that competition in the automotive market is too tight so their presence is difficult to make themselves felt. So, here are some of the cars made in the country and how they are doing now. Let’s look at what?
1. Fin Komodo
Talking about domestically made cars cannot be separated from PT Fin Komodo Teknologi. The company, which is based in Cimahi, West Java, continues to make special cars for off-road and industrial activities.
Until now they continue to add to the portfolio of cars they make. There are five cars recorded that they are still marketing, namely the KD 250 X Standard, KD 250 X Patrol, KD 250
They even made an electric car called Bledhex. Unfortunately, the car is still in concept form until now.
2. Tawon
PT Super Gasindo Jaya’s footprint as a Tawon car manufacturer certainly didn’t suddenly fall from the sky. It turns out that since the 1960s, its founder, Kuntjoro Njoto, has been involved in the national automotive world. They once made a truck that could carry loads weighing 40 tons.
They were then interested in making a micro car called Tawon to replace Bajaj public transport which was deemed unfit. Unfortunately Tawon is not widely absorbed by the market.
Apart from that, PT Super Gasindo Jaya has also been in the spotlight because it wants to make Tawon Electric and BBG. It’s just that the plan remains a plan. Unfortunately, the work of PT Super Gasindo Jaya now seems to have disappeared from the hustle and bustle of the automotive business.
3. AMMDes
AMMDes is an abbreviation for Alat Mekanis Multiguna Pedesaaan or Rural Multipurpose Mechanical Equipment. This four-wheeled vehicle is the creation of PT Kreasi Mandiri Wintor Indonesia (KMWI), a subsidiary of PT Astra Otoparts Tbk (Astra Group).
AMMDes’ popularity is increasing because it is often promoted at the Indonesia Modification Expo (IMX) modification exhibition. At that time IMX invited the Indonesian people to make unique modifications for AMMDes.
Until now, AMMDes still sells four-wheeled vehicles made by them. Interestingly, each vehicle can be tailored to the customer’s needs.
4. GEA
GEA is an Indonesian car brand made by PT INKA, a state-owned company based in Madiun, East Java. Initially, PT INKA produced trains, but due to the decline in orders in the 2000s, the company decided to produce its own cars with a car concept for rural areas.
GEA uses a 640 cc Rusnas engine developed by BPPT RI and several car components produced by local companies in East Java. GEA engines and transmissions are imported from China because there are no local suppliers capable of producing them.
The GEA car prototype was successfully developed until it reached the 8th generation and was finally marketed as a city car at a price of IDR 45 million-IDR 50 million. However, GEA production was stopped following the policy of BUMN Minister Dahlan Iskan who asked PT INKA to focus on train production. Since then, GEA has only been a short story in the national car program.
5. Beta97
The next car brand made in Indonesia is Beta 97 which is produced by PT Bakrie Motor. Unfortunately, the Beta 97 car project had to be stopped due to the Indonesian monetary crisis.
For nine months, Beta 97 has gone through various tests such as body, electronic systems, suspension tests, and so on.
