TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States-based car company PT Ford Motor Indonesia's (FMI) decision to end its businesses in Indonesia has hit local dealers hard.
Harry Ponto, the legal representative of 31 Ford dealers across Indonesia, said the calculated loss from Ford's shut-down reaches Rp1 trillion. Dealerships are now demanding FMI and Ford Motor Company for indemnity. Two legal notices have been filed, the first on June 1, 2016, and the secondtwo weeks later on June 13.
Andee Yoestong, owner of 11 Ford dealerships who had been partners with the American auto giant since 2002, said he was shocked with the company's sudden decision to end their operations in Indonesia on January 25 this year. Andee said that Ford just left without talking to its dealership partners, who had spent hundreds of billions for the business.
"Not only is this disappointing, but for them to back out from a commitment they made with local partners is a very humiliating thing to do for an international brand of Ford's size," Andee said.
Kenny Kusuma, a Ford dealer from Bali, said the company's decision to just leave from Indonesia creates a bad perception about foreign investors. This behavior, Kenny said, will make local companies lose trust on foreign investors.
"This type of behavior by a foreign investor is very insulting and detrimental to Indonesian entrepreneurs," said Kenny.
DESTRIANITA KUSUMASTUTI
