Japanese carmakers dominate Indonesian market

Japanese automakers now dominate the fast-growing and increasingly lucrative Indonesian market, accounting for nearly 90% of the cars sold in the country. Toyota Motor Corporation is now the largest automaker in the country, and its sales accounted for 35% of new cars sold in 2011. Daihatsu Motor Co. is second with a 16% market share, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. with 15%, and Suzuki Motor Corporation with an 11% market share. All four companies are expanding their production facilities in anticipation of a continuing increase in demand. Car sales in Indonesia went up by 17% on the year in 2011 to a record high of 894,000 units, and the figure is expected to reach 1 million within the next few years. Two other Japanese automakers, Nissan and Honda, have set high goals for this year. Nissan Motor Company said its target is to boost local sales by 50% to more than 90,000 units this year from 60,000 units last year. Honda Motor Co. said its target is to boost its market share to 20% from 5% last year. (April 18, 2012)