Deluxe auto giants race to win hearts

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Fair wind: Models gaze into the lens as they flank Volkswagen’s new Scirocco three-door coupe at the 2012 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

German automakers showcased their deluxe cars at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS), expressing optimism in Indonesia’s upper-class market.

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volkswagen will reside in Hall B and C at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) arena in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, for the duration of the automotive show.

PT Garuda Mataram Motor (GMM), the authorized dealer of luxury German-brand Audi, has booked a 470-square-meter space for its booth, an almost twofold increase from last year’s 270-square-meter room.

GMM president director, Andrew Nasuri, said on Friday that in addition to a bigger showroom, the company also increased the number of cars to be displayed at this year’s event.

“We also launched our brand new premium sedan, Audi A6 2.0 TFSI, which is slimmer and sportier than the previous Audi A series, perfect for executives that enjoy driving themselves on the weekends,” he told The Jakarta Post.

The new A6 2.0 will be sold for Rp 1.02 billion (US$107,323), with GMM expecting to sell around 20 units per month, starting in September.

GMM marketing supervisor Herry Noverino said separately that the certified dealer booked sales for six A6 2.0’s and Audi A4’s, as of the second day of the automotive show.

Last year, the firm booked 40 car sales from the IIMS event alone. Herry said the firm was “optimistic its car sales will double this year”.

The Indonesian unit of German automaker BMW, PT BMW Group Indonesia, whose booth stands face-to-face with Audi’s showroom, has enlarged its space for this year’s show to 745 square meters.

BMW Indonesia president director Ramesh Divyanathan said the firm presented 10 units of BMW sedans and four of its MINI models at this year’s show.

BMW also launched its New 740Li sedan on Thursday during the event, which has a six-cylinder engine, incorporating the new BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, which gives high power for immediate torque, with a maximum 320 horsepower.

The new 7 series sedan sells for Rp 1.998 billion ($208,990). Ramesh was optimistic that the existing supply of 20 units for the sedan would be “sold out” by the end of this year.

Last year, BMW Indonesia booked sales for 50 units of its MINI series and 300 units of its BMWs. Ramesh said that sales in the first eight months of 2012 rose by 41 percent to 1,376 units compared to last year’s 977 units. The figure would be 1,605 units or 60 percent higher from the same period last year. The MINI series sales was at 229 units as of August.

Residing in the biggest booth out of the German brands is PT Mercedes-Benz Indonesia (MBI), the subsidiary of Germany-based automaker Mercedes-Benz, When asked about their sales expectations this year, MBI president director Claus Weidner said, “I think this year’s event is not about car sales, but rather about connecting with our customers.”

This year, MBI booked a 1,347-square-meter space for their car booth, which comprises of a 627-square-meter indoor space to display seven cars and a 720-square-meter space for an outdoor exhibition, where they display six units of their trucks.

MBI launched three new cars at this year’s show, which includes the SL Roadster 350, new SUV G 63 AMG and CLS Shooting Brake, a sports car with five seats and a tailgate.

GMM, who is also the authorized local distributor for Volkswagen (VW) Group vehicles, launched two new products on Friday, the new VW Tiguan, a compact crossover vehicle (CUV) and the new Scirocco, a three-door sedan.

The two new vehicles sell for Rp 400 million to Rp 600 million for the Tiguan, and Rp 400 million to Rp 700 million for the Scirocco. (asa)