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One of Indonesia's biggest diversified conglomerates (and therefore often labelled the barometer of the Indonesian economy), Astra International, posted a solid 25 percent year-on-year (y/y) growth of net profit to IDR 18.9 trillion (approx. USD $1.39 billion) in full-year 2017. Meanwhile, the company's net revenue rose 13.8 percent (y/y) to IDR 206.1 trillion (approx. USD $15.2 billion).
Discussions about the regulatory framework - including incentives - for the electric car industry in Indonesia are ongoing. Hence, stakeholders in the country's automotive industry are eagerly awaiting for results of government discussions and a roadmap before investing in manufacturing facilities for the launch of electric cars on the Indonesian market.
Although it proves difficult for Indonesian car manufacturers to export their output to overseas markets, reflected by the declining number of local car exporters (declining from eight in 2013 to five at the start of 2018), Indonesia's car shipments have been rising steadily over the past five years. However, in absolute terms the figure remains modest with 231,169 exported car units from Indonesia in full-year 2017.
Based on the latest data from the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI), motorcycle sales in Indonesia rose 1.8 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 482,537 units in the first month of 2018. Although it is only modest growth, it does give rise to optimism about the direction of domestic motorcycle sales this year, according to AISI Chairman Johannes Loman.
Indonesia's car sales rose 11.1 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 95,892 vehicles (wholesale) in January 2018 according to the latest data from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo). This is a very promising start of the year as the January 2018 car sales figure is the highest January figure since 2014.
The Indonesian government is preparing a number of diplomatic moves related to the issuance of Prime Minister of Vietnam Decision No. 116/2017/ND-CP on Overseas Vehicle Type Approval (VTA). This regulation, which came into effect in Vietnam in January 2018, potentially eliminates about USD $85 million of Indonesia's foreign exchange earnings in the automotive industry up to March 2018.
After a good year in 2017, sales of commercial vehicles in Indonesia are expected to accelerate further in 2018 on the back of accelerating economic growth, growing activity in the mining and agriculture sectors, and the Gaikindo Indonesia International Commercial Vehicle Expo (to be held between 1-4 March 2018 in the Jakarta Convention Center).
Research institute Frost & Sullivan expects car sales in Indonesia to rise 4.6 percent year-on-year (y/y) in 2018 supported by growing domestic demand for commercial vehicles, stable demand for low-cost green cars (LCGCs), the availability of affordable car prices, and the launch of new car models.
Indonesian manufacturers of four-wheeled motorized vehicles need to adjust to the Euro-4 emission standard. In March 2017 the Indonesian government ordered this through the issuance of Environment and Forestry Ministry Regulation No. P. 20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM. 1/3/2017 on the Standard Exhaust Emission of Euro 4-Type Motor Vehicles. These European emission standards define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles.
Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry emphasizes that manufacturers in the country's automotive industry do not need to be concerned about the implementation of European emission standards, the standards that define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles.
Latest Columns Automotive
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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