We predict car sales will reach 375 thousand to 380 thousand units at the end of this year."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) saw its car exports falling 5% to 165 thousand units this year from 176 thousand units last year due to low demand in the Middle East.
The protracted crisis in the Middle East had an impact on car demand in the region, TMMIN Vice President Director Warih Andang Tjahjono said here.
Car exports to Saudi Arabia, which makes up 50% of the companys market in the Middle East recorded the biggest decline of 30%, he said.
A decline in global crude prices had affected car demand from Middle Eastern countries, which rely on oil production and trade, he said.
In addition, war in the region also lowered demand for Toyota cars including multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), Toyota Kijang Innova, sport utilities vehicle (SUV) Fortuner, hatchback Yaris, and sedan Vios.
The Middle East and Asia are the biggest markers for Toyota cars, contributing more than 50 percent of the companys exports, he said.
The other destinations for Toyota cars are Africa and Latin America.
While demand in the export market slightly declined, domestic demand for Toyota cars grew above the average national sales.
Toyota car sales till November 2016 rose 19% compared to the same period last year, Vice President Director of PT Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) Henry Tanoto said.
"We predict car sales will reach 375 thousand to 380 thousand units at the end of this year," he said.
(Reported by Risbiani Fardaniah/Uu.S012/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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