TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU) ruled that the motorcycle manufacturers PT Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing (YIMM) and PT Astra Honda Motor (AHM) are guilty of forming an automatic scooter cartel.
“The KPPU panel of judges fine Yamaha Rp25 billion and Honda Rp22.5 billion for violations in business competition,” Chief Judge Tresna Priyana Soemardi said in the KPPU hearing yesterday, Feb. 19.
According to Tresna, the fines were calculated based on aggravating and redeeming factors of the defendants i.e. Honda and Yamaha. The panel of judges considers that during the hearing process Yamaha failed to cooperate in presenting witnesses, president director and guilty of manipulating its data. “The panel of judges adds 50 percent more fines,” he said.
On the contrary, the panel of judges sees that Honda cooperated fully with the court by bringing witnesses and comprehensive data. As a result, the panel of judges reduced 10 percent of the fine for Honda.
A member of KPPU commission council Kurnia Sya’ranie said that a cartel was established for 110-120 cc automatic scooters in 2014. He pointed to irregular price increases by the two companies. The KPPU investigators found that in 2014 Honda increased the price three times, whereas Yamaha did it five times. The two brands increased motorcycle price by Rp400-600,000 per unit. “Price hike was set jointly by Honda and Yamaha to increase profit,” Kurnia said.
KPPU panel of judges considers that Indonesia scooter market is oligopolistic in nature which is prone to cartel practices.
Honda enjoys a majority motorcycle market share in Indonesia at 77.8 percent, followed by Yamaha with 19.9 percent.
Yamaha defense lawyer Rikrik Rizkiyana said that he would file an appeal. He said that the basis on which the panel of judges made their decision was unreasonable. “The Commission’s panel of judges did not explain the parameters of data manipulation was,” he said.
Muhammad Abidin, Yamaha Indonesia’s General Manager of After-sales, has expressed his disappointment over the decision. “The panel of judges has omitted trial facts. Witnesses said that there was no evidence of any communication whatsoever between Yamaha Indonesia and Astra Honda Motor,” he said.
Andi Hartanto, Astra Honda Motor’s General Manager of Corporate Secretary and Legal, said the company has yet to take a stance. “There is still an option to file an appeal up to the Constitutional Court,” he said. He has also denied forming a cartel with Yamaha. “At international level and racing world, Honda and Yamaha are competing stiffly.”
PRAGA UTAMA
