Car sales expected to fall in second quarter this year because of limited supply due to production disruption following the destruction of some normal component industry microchip supply spare parts in Japan. "Car sales could fall between 20-30 percent," said Chairman of the Third Joint Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), Johnny Darmawan, said here Tuesday. He estimates that car sales in April could be down to around 60 thousand compared to the previous month to reach about 82,058 units. In January and February, domestic car sales reached 73,866 units each and 69 489 units. In the first quarter, national car sales, whole sales "(sales up to the level of dealer) has reached 225,413 units or an increase of 29.5 percent compared to the same period last year amounted to 174,074 units.
Johnny said, now in the domestic production of cars using the remnants of the existing stock of microchip components. Microchip components made in Japan, he said, estimated to be only sufficient to meet the needs to May. "It (the components of a microchip) are the remnants of the army` display `(stock). It was still divided in order to keep up with production (cars) per month, although below the actual needs," said Johnny. Microchip production facilities to electronically drive the car, as long as it produced several Japanese companies including Hitachi, Toshiba, and Fujitsu. As a result of the earthquake and tsunami, and the threat of nuclear danger, the plant has not yet commenced. "They're trying to find relocation, possibly to the United States," said Johnny. He claimed to worry about when to June and July there is no supply, then Indonesia's car sales will drop, because almost all cars produced using the component. "The impact of the earthquake and tsunami, and the nuclear threat in Japan, enough to interfere with the achievement of the target car sales in Indonesia are expected to penetrate 800 thousand units," he said.
Johnny who is also President Director of PT Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) also estimates sales of Toyota as the market leader also will drop 20-30 percent in April and May. "Toyota's sales in April of this can go down to 30 gratuities," he said. In March, TAM sales reached 32,311 units. During the first quarter, sales reached 85,494 units TAM or up 24.1 percent over the same period last year amounted to 68,890. But regardless, in the domestic car market, TAM target market control over 36 percent.