Jokowi: Esemka Car Production Not Government`s Responsibility
24 October 2018 16:32 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko `Jokowi` Widodo told that the continuity of the Esemka car production is at the hands of the automotive industry itself. The government is only tasked to push the cars to quickly enter its emissions and roadworthy phase.
“After it’s done, the cars would be handed to the industry. It's no longer our responsibility if it enters production stage or not,” said the President at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition BSD (ICE BSD) in Tangerang today, Oct. 24.
He argued that it would be impossible for a president to establish a factory and personally supervise the production of the Esemka vehicles. Jokowi further explained that Esemka is a prototype initially created by a vocational high school (SMK) in Solo, Central Java.
Read: National Car Esemka to be Launched in 2018 Govt
Jokowi, who at the time was Solo Mayor, supported the concept of having the Esemka pass emissions and roadworthy tests as other vehicles sold commercially do.
“I supported it when I was a mayor since it has a great concept. Don’t think that I personally made the Esemka car,” said Jokowi. “What do I have to do with the Esemka car? It has nothing to do with the government.”
Jokowi then asserted that the continuation of the ambitious project is now in the hands of stakeholders in the industry. However, he maintains that he will continue to support Esemka’s production if the project does indeed be mass produced.
AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI