Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT General Motors (GM) Indonesia, an authorized GM car distributor, has started building an assembly plant in Bekasi, West Java, with a capacity of 40,000 units a year with an investment of US$150 million.

"We have conducted a ground breaking for the plant construction. This shows our seriousness in developing business in Indonesia," the president director of GM Indonesia, Marcos Purty, said here on Friday.

Marcos said the plant stands on an area of 11 hectares. GM also plans to develop a 600 square meter garden to make the plant`s environment good.

"We appeal to all contractors to prioritize and implement safety regulations in the project," he said.

He said the project is expected to finish in 2013. The plant will produce passenger cars to meet export and dometic demand and absorb 800 workers.

Marcos said the GM plant in Bekasi will join with the GM manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand. The plant will strengthen market penetration in Southeast Asia.

"The two facilities certainly will use local component supplies. We will also widen dealer networks in Thailand and Indonesia to spur sales," he said.

GM is the US automotive giant and global car maker second only to Toyota. GM is now focussing on four brands namely Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac.

GM enters Indonesia through Chevrolet or better known as Chevy. This year`s sales of the brand reaches 5,000 units. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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