Esemka Hopes to Own One Percent of Market Share

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Solo Manufaktur Kreasi, local carmaker of Esemka brand cars, expects to own at least one percent of the automotive market share in Indonesia. Sabar Budi, spokesperson for the company, is optimistic that Esemka has what it takes to compete in the national market. "We have our signature vehicle, the Rajawali R2 SUV," he said to Tempo on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Sabar said that the Esemka Rajawali R2 has undergone an endurance and fuel consumption test last week from Wonogiri-Yogyakarta. "There are no issue performance-wise. Fuel consumption is also quite low," he said.

However, the company still could not produce cars in great numbers due to limited funding. They only produce cars once an order has been placed. "We cannot mass produce the cars yet. We need to know who the buyer is," said Sabar.

Automotive expert in Surakarta Ibnu R. Sahoer, said that Esemka's target of getting one percent of the national automotive market share is quite high. "If the total national car sales reaches 1 million units each year, then Esemka needs to sell 10,000 units alone," he said.

Ibnu added that even until today, foreign carmakers from China and South Korea needs to work hard to sell 10,000 cars per year. Esemka has only sold 50 units this year. "They should focus more on what to produce, sedan, SUV or pick-up trucks," said Ibnu.

UKKY PRIMARTANTYO