Government Plans to Stop Import of Luxury Cars

Jakarta, MINA — The Indonesian government plans to stop importing completely built-up cars, with an engine capacity of above 3,000 cc, and review orders for luxury cars amidst the rupiah`s weakening against the dollar, Antara News reported.

“Yesterday we tried to check their import notification and found the goods have been there. Now, we want (the plan) to be disseminated,” Director of Maritime Industry, Transportation and Defense Equipment at the Industry Ministry Putu Juli Ardika stated here on Wednesday.

If the ordered cars have arrived in Indonesia, the Industry Ministry will consider their buyers` request to have the cars, he noted.

“Let us wait and see. We will consider it, as it needs a seal of approval from the leadership. The leadership is the director general and the minister,” he remarked.

Amidst the rupiah`s weakening against the dollar, the government is apprehensive that the purchase of luxury cars will jeopardize the national economy, he revealed.

He said the ministry had coordinated with sole agents in the country to prepare the policy.

“At my meeting with importers, they told me that they find it difficult to sell (luxury cars) under the current economic condition. I once told them that the delivery (of luxury cars) would be reduced to one from 10 earlier,” he noted.

Ardika said he did not know how long the policy will last. However, he added that the government will consider the national economy to revoke the policy.

“We do not know how long it will last. We will look at the national economic condition (to revoke it),” he added. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)