After going through a series of tests, not to mention the pros and cons, the local vocational high school-assembled cars, the Esemka Rajawali and the Esemka Bima, were officially launched on Saturday at the Solo Techno Park (STP) in Surakarta, Central Java.

 “It takes time and hard work to make these cars, but this has been a spirited struggle,” said Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi “Rudy” Rudyatmo during the event.

The launch ceremony was held to coincide with commemorations for National Heroes Day as the
administration aimed to raise people’s awareness to support local products through the production of the Esemka cars.

The current Esemka Rajawali sports utility vehicle (SUV) is an improved version of the previous Esemka Rajawali 1 prototype assembled by the students. The Esemka Bima, on the other hand, is a pick-up truck.

Both cars also passed emissions tests held at the Propulsion and Motor Thermodynamics Center (BTMP) in Serpong, South Tangerang in August.

The type test certification for the two cars was approved by the Transportation Ministry’s Land Transportation Directorate General in mid-October, while other documents like the vehicle license and registration documents have already been issued by the National Police to declare that the cars are roadworthy.

Dwi Budi Martono, an STP technician, expressed his optimism the two Esemka cars would be able to compete with Japanese and European cars.

He pointed out some differences between the newly built Esemka and its prototype. “The basic change is in the body, which is now much slimmer with an engine capacity of 1,500 cc and a supplemental restraint airbag system,” Dwi said.

The on-road price of the Esemka Rajawali is between Rp 100 million (US$10,400) and Rp 140 million, while the Esemka Bima will be sold for around Rp 65 million.

Mass production is scheduled to be conducted at the STP compound. The production will be jointly managed by PT Solo Manufaktur Kreasi (SMK) and the STP.

Once mass production began, PT SMK would collaborate with Chinese automobile manufacturing company Chery Automobile, said Joko Sutrisno, manager of the production control division at SMK.

Joko said SMK started taking orders on Saturday, claiming they had received initial orders for more than 10,000 of the home-produced vehicles. Each vehicle will be ready within five months.

The first Esemka car, formerly called the Kiat Esemka, was introduced by students from SMKN 1 Trucuk, a vocational senior high school in Klaten, Central Java in 2011.

The cars made headlines after former Surakarta mayor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, now Jakarta governor, ordered two Esemkas, deciding to use them as his official vehicles.

Current Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo said his administration would continue to work with Jokowi in the mass production of the cars.

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