Suprianto made the statement while launching the first locally-made SUV and Pick-up Esemka after the vehicles were declared road worthy.
"The two cars have passed trial tests and have a right to obtain car registration numbers. So, they are now allowed to be marketed and people who are interested may buy them," he said.
Surprianto said that with national production expected to reach one million units, Esemka cars now had the opportunity to secure a sizeable market share.
The Esemka cars were launched as SUVs and Pick-up trucks. Esemka cars were initially produced by vocational students in Solo and were now being manufactured by PT Solo Manufaktur.
The car attracted public attention after former mayor of Solo, Joko Widodo, popularly known as `Jokowi who is now Jakarta governor, declared it as his official car.
PT Solo Manufaktur`s Djoko Sutrisno said the company had received 40,000 orders and down payments for 400 units so far.
"Following the recent launch, 14 persons have directly ordered the car, with each paying Rp2 million as commitment fee," he said, adding that monthly production at the company had reached 100 units.
Commenting on the price, he said the Rajawali SUV type was being sold at Rp100 million per unit, but would later cost Rp145 million following an increase in the prices of components of the Bima Pick-Up type by Rp65 million.
He said 60 percent of the components used in these cars were locally sourced.
"We will continue reducing our dependence on foreign products," he added.
Solo mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo said on the occasion that the achievement had been made possible through extraordinary struggle. "Our predecessors have fought for independence but the younger generation is now fighting to fill the independence," he said.
He also called on the younger generation to not lose hope and said that everything could be achieved through hard work, as shown by the vocational students, who had been able to materialize their dreams of making cars by on their own.
"We must be proud of their products and so it is appropriate for us to appreciate them by using them," he said.
Hadi added that after he retired as mayor he would be willing to become an instructor at the Esemka Car plant and work without pay.
(H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
