Mitsubishi Invests Rp7.2 Trillion to Build Factory

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mitsubishi Motor is intending to build a new car factory in Bekasi, West Java, May 2017. This new factory will produce multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with production capacity of 160,000 – 240,000 untis per year.

According to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation president Osamu Masuko, the new factory will begin operation in 2017 and spend investment of US$600 million (around Rp7.2 trillion). Some 20,000 of Mitsubishi’s total production in Indonesia will be exported to Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. "The rest will be marketed in Indonesia," he said yesterday.

Mitsubishi will also build a supporting component industry for the factory at the same time. Later, all Mitsubishi’s car components can be produced in Indonesia. However, Osamu declined to mention the total of the investment combined with the component industry. "It’s difficult to combine with component industry because we’re working with some other companies," said Masuko.

Mitsubishi Motor has already had an assembly plant in Pulo Gadung, Jakarta, with a production capacity of 160,000 vehicle units that consist of MPV and SUV. The new factory will later specialize in MPV production. Mitsubishi currently holds 17.3 percent of national car market share.

AMIR TEJO