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It may just be the right time to buy a new car with the country’s largest exhibition of cars in town for the 19th Indonesia International Motor Show.

The popular show opened its doors to the public on Friday boasting a range of choices that even tops last year.

The exhibition at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, features 24 passenger car brands and eight commercial vehicle brands — an improvement compared to last year’s 22. The Indonesian Automotive Industries Association (Gaikindo) said as many as 227 auto-related companies have now jumped on board.

The theme for this year’s show follows a worldwide trend: sustainable green technology.

Event coordinator Johnny Darmawan said it was time for car companies to take up green technology “and actively decrease the level of pollution.”

As Hatta Rajasa, the coordinating minister for the economy, opened the event, he encouraged the country’s auto industry to embrace green technology.

Though it may be difficult to implement, the minister said it was not impossible.

He highlighted how the idea of a “green car” had become a global trend. But he also acknowledged that technology for eco-friendly cars was expensive and said the government would work to provide incentives to ensure “environmentally friendly cars can be available in the market.”

Some brands at the event are using the opportunity to show off their concepts for the green car.

Honda has on display its Jazz EV, a city car that runs on a rechargeable electric motor. The car, which can reach 160 kilometers per hour, is expected to be mass produced in 2012.

Another noteworthy showing is Daihatsu’s A-Concept, a city car that also has a high-tech electric motor but comes with an expected price tag of under Rp 80 million ($9,500).

Honda Motor Prospek’s marketing director, Jonfis Fandy, applauded Hatta’s remarks, saying government incentives could attract more carmakers to develop green technology.

“The incentives can be in the form of tax deductions such as the luxury tax and car ownership tax,” he said.

Infrastructure such as new roads, better parking management and reasonable toll-road fees, he added, should be considered as methods to boost the automotive industry.

With the many cars on show, including a wide range of new models, the exhibition has become one of the most important auto events in the country. And many companies are using it as a way to show off their new models to prospective buyers.

Toyota has on display its new Innova and Fortuner models, Nissan has brought out its new X‑Trail and Kia is showing off its all new Picanto.

Many visitors said they attended the event because they were considering buying a new car.

Andrea, a young businessman, said he planned to attend the event this weekend to see firsthand all the new cars available.

But with the plethora of city cars on offer, Andrea said he was confused. He hoped going to the exhibition would help him make a better decision and get a good deal in the process.

“I hope I can also get a good price at the event,” he said.

Another car enthusiast, Dede Rihaldi, said even though he was not planning to buy a new car, he wanted to see for himself what the current trends in the auto industry were.

Event organizers were optimistic about setting a new record for attendances, with more than 300,000 expected during the 10‑day show. At least Rp 2.7 trillion in transactions is expected.

Last year, the event attracted more than 280,000 people and made Rp 2.5 trillion in sales.

In total 764,088 cars were sold in Indonesia last year — the highest ever total for the country.

And even though the industry has been hit hard by the disaster in Japan, where most car parts come from, it is still performing quite well. From January through June, 415,276 cars were sold in Indonesia, a 12 percent improvement from the same period a year earlier, according to Gaikindo.

Jongkie Sugiarto, Gaikindo’s deputy chairman, predicted car sales would reach 900,000 units next year and exceed one million units by 2014.

Now was the time for Indonesia to become a major player in Southeast Asia’s auto industry, Hatta said. With Japan considering moving its production base after the earthquake, “Indonesia should seize the opportunity.”

Further Coverage

Indonesia to be region’s car king?

Chrysler’s $100m plan > B1
Indonesia International Motor Show

 

July 23-31

 

Monday to Thursday

11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Friday to Sunday

10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Jakarta International Expo

Gedung Pusat Niaga Lt. 1 Jakarta Fair Ground

Kemayoran, Central Jakarta

Tel 021 2664 5000

 

www.jiexpo.com