The failure in passing the gas emission test was "not the end of everything," the minister said, adding the car`s makers could still make the necessary improvements.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government will encourage the makers of the Esemka car to continue making technological improvements to the home-made vehicle so it can pass all road-worthiness tests and compete with other automotive products, a minister said.
Transportation Minister EE Mangindaan made the statement here Friday in connection with the failure of the Esemka - made by vocational high-school students in Solo, Central Java - to pass a gas emission test at the Science and Technology Examination Center (Puspitek) in Serpong.
The failure in passing the gas emission test was "not the end of everything," the minister said, adding the car`s makers could still make the necessary improvements.
"There are indeed environment-preserving rules that must be observed, a certain emission level that may not be surpassed. But I am sure any weakness in this regard in the Esemka can still be overcome. So the emission test failure is not the end of everything. We will definitely support the Esemka," Mangindaan said.
The Agency for Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT) would provide technical assistance to the car`s makers to improve its quality, he said.
"BPPT will look into the car`s technological conditions and help to correct existing weaknesses so that the car will be able to compete in the market. After that we can think of mass producing it. The goverment is ready any time to give the needed support," he said.
He dismissed suggestions that Esemka`s failure to pass the emission test had been orchestrated under pressure from certain parties.
"No, that`s not true. It`s purely the regulation that has set the permissible emission level. Whatever pressure there is, we must abide by the existing rule." he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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