REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KARAWANG -- Industry Minister Saleh Husin has expressed optimism that Indonesia's national automotive industry is capable of competing with its Thai counterpart.

"Several parties have forecast that the domestic market will continue to increase and expand in line with the people's rising incomes. We are optimistic that Indonesia will be able to compete with Thailand in the near future," Minister Husin affirmed here on Friday (21/11).

He stated that Indonesia will be able to compete with Thailand both in terms of production and exports.

The industry minister remarked that in order to strengthen Indonesia's position as one of the key automotive producers in the ASEAN, or even globally, the government should also be heedful to the automotive component industry.

The component industry should help to strengthen the national automotive industry. A strong automotive component industry will reduce the national assembly industry's reliance on imports.

On the occasion, the minister called on PT TMMIN to continue development of the component industry besides building an assembling industry by inviting more component industry partners to Indonesia.

"We also hope that the use of domestic products and engineering will increase, so that motor vehicles produced in Indonesia will have a strong structure and will be loved by Indonesian people," the minister noted.

In the meantime, PT Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors (KYB), the sole agent for Mitsubishi cars in Indonesia, announced that it is determined to achieve its car sales target of 92 thousand this year, despite a declining trend in the initial ten months of the year.

"It is difficult, but we are set to achieve the target," Executive General Manager of PT KYB Kosei Tamaki remarked here on Tuesday.

Tamaki revealed that the target of selling 92 thousand units is about 14 percent of the country's total car sales in 2014.

He pointed out that Mitsubishi is not the only manufacturer to experience a dip in sales, but all other car manufacturers too have recorded a decline.

"Overall, supplies are on the decline, and it was not attributable to marketing performance," he stated.

One of the factors responsible for the decline in car sales is an increase in the fuel oil prices.

KYB sells Mitsubishi cars including Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Outlander, Mirage, and Delica.

In September 2014, Mitsubishi launched Delica in Indonesia and is expected to increase its market share.

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