Car & Auto Industries

Pakai mobnas, pemerintah menghemat dana mobil dinas

2011-06-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

Lembaga Kebijakan Pengadaan Barang/Jasa Pemerintah (LKPP) hari ini menandatangani Surat Perjanjian Kerjasama (SPK) penunjukan langsung kendaraan pemerintah bersama 9 Agen Tunggal Pemegang Merek (ATPM) mobil.

Penandatanganan tersebut dipimpin Kepala LKPP Agus Rahardjo di kantor LKPP, Gedung Smesco UKM, Jakarta, Jumat (27/5/2011).

"SPK penunjukan langsung pengadaan kendaraan pemerintah ini adalah kontrak payung antara LKPP dengan penyedia kendaraan," kata Agus.

Penandatanganan tersebut dilakukan bersama dengan sembilan ATPM antara lain Suzuki, Toyota, Daihatsu, Mitsubishi, Ford, Mazda, KIA, Nissan, dan Isuzu.

"Tujuannya, agar menjadi pedoman dan aturan bagi Kementerian/Lembaga dalam melakukan penunjukkan langsung pendadaan kendaraan pemerintah yang spesifikasi dan acuan HPS (Harga Perkiraan Sendiri) telah ditetapkan dalam SPK di atas LKPP dan ATPM," jelasnya.

Hal itu dimaksudkan supaya pengadaan kendaraan pemerintah sesuai dengan tata nilai pengadaan. "Tindak lanjutnya adalah layanan perangkat lunak berbasis web aplikasi sistem penunjukan langsung pengadaan kendaraan pemerintah," ujar Agus.

Menurutnya, adanya penandatanganan SPK tersebut akan beri keuntungan pengguna (pemerintah) maupun dari sisi penyedia kendaraan pemerintah.

"Kita berharap ke depannya bisa dapat harga yang lebih murah. Kita tidak ingin merugikan penyedia, tetap ada margin. Namun perlu diingat, APBN kita dari 1200 triliun, secara keseluruhan untuk pengadaan tidak mencapai Rp 450 triliun. Maka itu, diharapkan ke depannya untuk pengadaan kepada pemerintah harganya bisa lebih murah, karena nantinya penghematan bisa dialokasikan untuk pendidikan, pelayanan masyarakat, dan sebagainya," tutur Agus.

"Pemerintah dapat melakukan efisiensi waktu dan anggaran, pelayanan baik harga terbaik. Sedangkan dari sisi penyedia dapat diperoleh iklim persaingan atas penyedia yang lebih adil dan berkualitas, serta waktu yang singak dan pengurangan biaya," tukas Agus.

Dirinya menambahkan, sebelumnya selalu dilakukan degan cara tender atau lelang. Hal tersebut mengakibatkan harga yang diinginkan di pasaran seharusnya rendah malah ada yang ditinggikan (mark up).

"Maka itu, dengan cara seperti ini harganya tidak akan mahal. Ada kelebihan atau diskon akan diberikan ke negara. Kalau tidak dilakukan nanti bisa diurus KPK," tegasnya.

Katanya, dengan sistem penujukkan ini maka proses pengadaan akan lebih cepat dan tidak membutuhkan waktu lama. Harga yang sudah ditetapkan dapat menjadi acuan bagi tiap lembaga pemerintah yang ingin melakukan pengadaan kendaraan.

"Diperkirakan untuk pengadaan kendaraan ini bisa dihemat kira-kira 10-15%," tutupnya.

Meski mengeruk milyaran dolar dari pasar dan bumi Indonesia, Eropa, US dan Jepang tak segan penjarakan 200 juta rakyat Indonesia bila produksi mobnas

2011-05-27T05:41:00.000-07:00

Tema : Attitude Change (Perubahan Tingkah Laku) sebagai Efek Transnasionalisme dalam Politik Dunia
Kasus : Indonesia dan WTO dalam masalah Mobnas (Mobil Nasional) “Timor"

Efek transnasionalisme salah satunya adalah Attitude Change (Perubahan Tingkah Laku). Maksudnya adalah hubungan antara organisasi transnasional dengan negara diharapkan bisa merubah kebijakan negara tersebut. Kebijakan yang memang merupakan kepentingan dari organisasi transnasional. Oleh karena itu mereka berusaha membawa ide baru, hal baru dan norma yang dikemukakan mereka kepada negara yang dituju.

Kasus WTO dan Indonesia dalam masalah Mobnas (Mobil Nasional) Timur menujukkan bahwa organisasi Transnasional (dalam hal ini adalah WTO) bisa mempengaruhi kebijakan pemerintah Indonesia. Awal mula muncul kasus ini karena inisiatif pemerintah Indonesia dalam mendukung dan ingin meningkatkan industri mobil nasional. Oleh karena itu, pemerintah akhirnya mengeluarkan kebijakan program Mobil Nasional yaitu bisa dilihat dalam Inpres No.2 tahun 1996 mengenai Program Mobil Nasional bahwa sebagai sebuah terobosan di sektor otomotif Indonesia. Tujuan Mobnas (Mobil Nasional) adalah sebagai embrio kemajuan dan kemandirian bangsa Indonesia dalam industri otomotif.1) Program Mobnas ini yang menunjuk PT Timor Putra Nasional (TPN) sebagai pelopor yang memproduksi Mobnas sayangnya Mobnas masih belum dapat memproduksi di dalam negeri, maka perlu dikeluarkan Keppres No. 42 tahun 1996 yang mengizinkan PT TPN mengimpor Mobnas yang kemudian diberi merek “Timor” (baik dalam bentuk jadi atau completely build-up/ CBU dari Korea Selatan.2)

Hal ini mendatangkan reaksi dari beberapa pihak yaitu Jepang, Amerika Serikat dan beberapa negara Eropa. Jepang yang paling berusaha keras kerena mempunyai kepentingan kuat dalam industri otomotifnya yang telah menguasai hampir 90% pangsa mobil Indonesia. Reaksi lain dari Amerika dan beberapa negara Eropa gelisah karena mereka berencana menanamkan investasi dalam industri otomotif di Indonesia. Akhirnya terjadi dialog antara Jepang dan pemerintah Indonesia dan hasilnya dead lock. Kemudian tindakan lanjutan dari Jepang yaitu melalui Wakil Menteri Perdagangan Internasional dan Industrinya menyatakan bahwa mereka akan membawa masalah ini ke WTO.

Indonesia secara resmi telah bergabung dengan World Trade Organization (WTO) dengan ratifikasi konvensi WTO dalam Undang-Undang No.7 tahun 1994 secara hukum Indonesia sudah terikat kepada ketentuan- ketentuan General Agreements on Tariff and Trade (GATT). Dalam GATT ada prinsip- prinsip yang telah dilanggar Indonesia yang terkait dengan kebijakan Mobnas Timor, prinsip- prinsip berikut adalah:

-Prinsip National Treatment, Artikel III, Paragraph ke-4 GATT 1994
Intinya tentang kewajiban negara untuk memberikan perlakuan yang sama terhadap semua investor asing. Kebijakan Mobil Nasional dianggap telah melanggar ketentuan ini karena pemberian fasilitas penghapusan bea masuk dan penghapusan pajak barang mewah yang hanya diberikan pada PT. Timor Putra Nasional.
-Prinsip Penghapusan Hambatan Kuantitatif, Artikel XI, Paragraf ke-1 GATT 1994
Intinya tentang GATT mengizinkan tindakan proteksi terhadap industri domestik melalui tariff dan tidak melalui upaya perdagangan lainnya (non-tariff). Perlindungan melalui tariff ini masih memungkinkan masih ada kompetisi yang sehat dalam perdagangan internasional. Kebijakan Mobnas dianggap telah melanggar ketentuan ini karena pemerintah Indonesia dianggap telah melanggar ketentuan kewajiban investor menggunakan bahan baku, bahan setengah jadi, komponen juga suku cadang produksi dan proses produksi otomotif dalam negeri (industri otomotif Indonesia) ketentuan ini dikenal sebagai Persyaratan Kandungan Lokal. Berdasarkan ketentuan GATT yang diimplementasikan dalam aturan Trade Related Investment Measures bahwa kebijakan Persyaratan Kandungan Lokal merupakan salah satu kebjakan investasi yang berbentuk non-tariff dan harus dihapus karena bisa merusak kestabilan perdagangan internasional.3)

Pelanggaran Indonesia dalam WTO sudah cukup jelas. Maka pemerintah harus melakukan beberapa kebijakan- kebijakan untuk memperbaiki keadaan, kebijakan- kebijakan tersebut yaitu:
-Penghapusan bea masuk dan penghapusan pajak barang mewah yang mulanya hanya diberikan pada PT. Timor Putra Nasional. Logikanya ketika hal ini dilakukan maka biaya produksi mereka akan naik sehingga membuat harga jual mobil Timor menjadi rata- rata (sama dengan harga jual mobil buatan negara lain yang dijual di Indonesia). Hal tersebut tidak akan mengancam posisi investor asing karena sama-sama menggunakan harga jual yang standar.
-Penghapusan kebijakan pemerintah tentang ketentuan Persyaratan Kandungan Lokal (bentuk non-tariff) supaya perdagangan internasional dapat berjalan secara adil.
Perbaikan kebijakan tersebut nyatanya membuat Mobil Nasional “Timor” menjadi terancam bangkrut. Angka penjualan merosot dan banyak sekali mobil yang tersimpan dalam gudang Kerawang dan Cengkareng yang jumlahnya sekitar 15.000 unit pada tahun berikutnya.4)

Berdasarkan kasus antara WTO dan Indonesia mengenai masalah Mobnas (Mobil Nasional) Timor bisa disimpulkan bahwa organisasi Transnasional (WTO) bisa membuat perubahan tingkah laku dalam suatu negara yaitu berupa perubahan kebijakan mereka. WTO menentang tentang kebijakan Indonesia tentang Mobnas dan akhirnya Indonesia mengubah kebijakannya sesuai keinginan WTO. Sehingga efek Transnasionalisme dalam politik dunia dapat ditemukan dalam kasus ini.

Footnote:
1) Dani, Sengketa Mobil Nasional Indonesia, dalam http://one.indoskripsi.com, 2008, diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.09 pm.
2) ___, Met or Zonder WTO, Timor Terus Melaju, dalam http://www.tempo.co.id, 1997, diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.14 pm.
3) Dani, Sengketa Mobil Nasional Indonesia, dalam http://one.indoskripsi.com, Op cit.
4) ___, Mungkin, Beli Mobil Timor Pakai Kupon, dalam http://www.tempointeraktif.com, 1998, diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.02 pm.

REFERENSI
_____. 1997. Jangan Ada Lagi Kebijakan Hit and Run. Dalam http://www.tempointeraktif.com. Diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.23 pm
_____. 1996. Jepang belum Adukan soal 'Timor' ke WTO. Dalam http://www.republika.co.id. Diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 04.42 pm
_____. 1997. Met or Zonder WTO, Timor Terus Melaju. Dalam http:// www.tempo.co.id. Diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.14 pm
_____. 1998. Mungkin, Beli Mobil Timor Pakai Kupon. Dalam http://www.tempointeraktif.com. Diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.02 pm
_____. 1996. Timor Tenang-Tenang Hadapi Gugatan WTO. Dalam http://www.jawapos.co.id. Diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.12 pm
Dani. 2008. Sengketa Mobil Nasional Indonesia. Dalam http://one.indoskripsi.com. Diakses tanggal 22 Oktober 2009 pukul 05.09 pm

Jepang produksi mobil murah di China seharga Rp 23,5 Juta, bukan di Indonesia

2011-05-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

Sejak pertama kali diperlihatkan, Tata Nano langsung menghentak dunia dan menjadi mobil termurah sejagat. Tapi kini, Tata Nano mendapat saingan dari China, Jiangnan Alto yang dijual hanya lima ribu rupiah lebih mahal dari Tata Nano.

Di India, Tata Nano dilepas mulai harga 124.106 rupee atau sekitar Rp 23.519.154,- sementara Jiangnan Alto baru saja dijual di China dengan dengan harga 17.800 yuan atau sekitar Rp 23.524.677,- atau Rp 5.523,- lebih mahal.

Namun, harga ini sebenarnya masih lebih murah dari perkiraan awal. Sebab tahun lalu, Jiangnan Alto diperkirakan akan dilepas dengan harga 20.000 RMB atau sekitar Rp 26,4 jutaan

Meski selisih harga ini tergolong sangat tipis, tapi praktis dengan selisih harga ini Tata Nano pun berhasil mempertahankan predikatnya sebagai mobil termurah di dunia.

Jiangnan Alto yang kini harus puas hanya menjadi mobil termurah di China ini seperti detikOto kutip dari china car times, Jumat (26/5/2011), diboyong oleh Zoyte setelah sekian lama vakum di pasar China.

Mobil yang desainnya sederhana ini sebenarnya adalah sebuah Suzuki Alto yang pernah masuk pasaran China pada medio 90an sampai 2000an awal. Ketika itu, Suzuki Alto dibawa oleh empat pabrikan mobil lokal yakni Chang’an Auto, Jiang Nan, Xi’an Tai dan Sichuan Auto.

Di tangan keempatnya, nama Suzuki Alto kemudian berubah menjadi Chang’an Alto, Jiangbei Alto, Jiangnan Alto dan Tai Chuan Alto sebelum akhirnya berhenti dipasarkan.

Kini setelah kembali ke pasar, mobil ini pun langsung menghentak. Sektor dapur pacu mobil ini dikatakan telah mengalami peningkatan kualitas hingga memenuhi standar emisi Chinese5.

Di atas kertas, Jiangnan Alto memiliki keunggulan di sektor mesin dibanding dengan Tata Nano. Bila Tata Nano hanya mengusung mesin 623 cc dengan tenaga hanya 33 PS, Jiangnan Alto hadir dengan mesin 800 cc berkekuatan 36 bhp.

Melihat hal itu, Tata Nano sepertinya kini harus segera waspada. Apalagi ada beberapa pabrikan mobil yang sudah secara terang-terangan ingin menantang pabrikan India itu dalam membuat mobil termurah di dunia.

Seperti pabrikan mobil China, Geely yang memiliki rencana untuk mengeluarkan sebuah mobil sangat murah bernama Intelligent Geely (IG) yang bahkan harganya dibawah harga Tata Nano yakni hanya 10.000 RMB atau sekitar Rp 13,5 jutaan. Mobil ini rencananya akan diproduksi pada tahun 2013 mendatang.

Atau mobil mungil buatan Nissan-Renault yang kabarnya akan menyaingi Tata Nano dengan harga US$ 2.500 atau sekitar Rp 21,4 jutaan saja.

WTO, Jepang dan Mobnas Timor

2011-05-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

"Mungkin, Beli Mobil Timor Pakai Kupon"

Mobil Timor ketubruk di WTO! Berita itu sebetulnya tidak lagi mengejutkan masyarakat. Sejak awal, memang banyak yang mengecam subsidi pemerintah terhadap mobil Timor yang dianggap sebagai mobil nasional itu. Tidak hanya itu, pemerintah dan IMF juga pernah bersepakat untuk membiarkan Timor melaju tanpa dorongan subsisi. Belakangan, pemerintah rupanya tak tega melihat "mobil nasional" ini mogok di pasaran. Sebuah Keppres pun datang menyelamatkannya.

Wawancara Suhari Sargo:

Di luar itu , Jepang terus melaju ke WTO. Jepang memperkarakan Timor ini di Organisasi Perdagangan Dunia itu. Hasilnya? Ya, itu tadi. Timor kalah telak di organisasi itu. "Nasib mobil Timor benar-benar terancam setelah keputusan WTO itu", kata Suhari Sargo kepada TEMPO Interaktif. Menurut alumnus ITB (1960) itu, sebelum subsidi untuk Timor dicabut pun pemasaran mobil ini anjlok di pasaran. Bulan Maret misalnya, hanya terjual sekitar 100 unit.

Dengan kekalahan di WTO itu berarti harganya tambah melejit dan pasar akan kian meninggalkannya. Jadi, Timor bakal KO di dua tempat. Di WTO dan di pasaran.

Berikut petikan wawancara Wens M. dari TEMPO Interaktif dengan Suhari Sargo, lewat telepon, Kamis, 3 April 1998. Purnawirawan TNI- AD yang berpangkat kolonel itu memang tekun mengamati perkembangan otomotif di Indonesia.

Bagaimana tanggapan Anda atas kalahnya mobil Timor di WTO?
Sebetulnya, keputusan di WTO itu adalah juga senjata yang ampuh bagi IMF terhadap keplinplanan Indonesia dalam soal mobil Timor. Sebagaimana diketahui, Indonesia dan IMF telah bersepakat untuk tidak memberikan kemudahan kepada mobil Timor. Tetapi kemudian keluar lagi Keppres yang mencabut kesepakatan itu. Sekarang, WTO memutuskan, mobil Timor tidak boleh disubsidi. Jadi, secara umum, dapat disimpulkan bahwa kebijakan kita memang salah dalam kasus mobil Timor ini.

Apa yang terjadi dengan mobil Timor pasca kekalahan di WTO?
Nasib mobil Timor akan sangat ditentukan oleh kekuasaan pasar semata. Dengan harga yang mahal, karena tanpa subsidi tadi, nasib perusahaan mobil ini memang terancam. Karena jangankan naik harganya, dengan harga yang lama saja pembelinya sangat sedikit. Coba bayangkan, dalam bulan Maret, penjualan mobil Timor ini hanya laku sekitar 100 unit. Jadi masih ada banyak mobil Timor yang nongkrong di gudangnya.

Apakah pemerintah akan berusaha membantu?
Biasanya, memang pemerintah berusaha membantu, tetapi untuk perusahaannya saya kira pemerintah akan kesulitan menyelamatkannya. Tetapi kalau untuk mobil yang sudah diimpor, pemerintah memang masih bisa menyelamatkannya. Taruhlah misalnya, semua mobil Timor itu dijadikan taksi saja. Karena kalau mau mengunakan cara-cara seperti sebelumnya, yakni mewajibkan semua instansi untuk membeli mobil ini, saya kira sudah tidak mungkin lagi. Karena pemerintah sendiri sudah terengah-engah. Negara sudah tidak punya uang lagi untuk memborong mobil ini. Untuk makan rakyatnya saja pakai kupon segala, apalagi buat beli mobil. Kecuali kalau perusahaannya mau jual mobil Timor ini dengan mengunakan kupon gratis juga.

Jadi, tidak ada jalan buat pemerintah untuk menyelamatkan "mobnas" ini?
Bisa saja pemerintah melakukan subsidi diam-diam. Lepas dari mungkin tidaknya pemerintah melakukannya, apa yang mereka dapat setelah itu. Pasarnya kan jelas sedang jeblok. Industrinya pun belum jelas benar. Jadi tidak ada gunanya pemerintah membantu. Biarkan saja mobil Timor bersaing bebas di pasar.

Mobil Timor mampu melakukan itu?
Sangat berat sekali. Saya kira mobil Timor tidak hanya kalah di WTO, tetapi juga bakal kalah di pasar mobil. Tahun kemarin saja pasaran mobil Timor itu kalah sama mobil Baleno, Kijang, dan jenis-jenis mobil lainnya. Dalam persaingan seperti itu dan dengan pasar yang merosot, jelas mobil Timor ini akan kewalahan. Pada 1997, memang mobil ini mampu memasarkan sekitar 20.000 sampai 24.000 unit. Tetapi jumlah sebanyak itu berhasil dipasarkan selama mereka masih mendapatkan fasilitas bebas bea masuk. Tetapi mobil-mobil dengan merk yang berlainan juga tetap laris di pasaran, bahkan cenderung meningkat. Jadi, kehadiran Timor ini tidak mendesak pasaran mobil lainnya. Dia hanya menciptakan segmen pasar baru saja. Tetapi dalam awal tahun ini, pasaran mobil Timor ini anjlok. Artinya, segmen pasarnya tadi mulai susut. Apalagi kalau bebas bea masuk itu nanti dicabut.

Jumlah yang banyak pada tahun lalu itu dibeli secara kredit. Dengan habisnya subsidi pemerintah ini apakah kreditor mobil Timor terkena dampaknya?
Kredit tahun lalu itu sekarang tidak bisa diubah lagi. Karena mobilnya kan sudah diimpor tahun lalu. Yang justru menjadi masalah adalah bagaimana menjual mobil yang sekarang ditumpuk di gudang Kerawang dan Cengkareng yang jumlahnya sekitar 15.000 unit. Andaikata sekarang manajemen mobil Timor mampu memasarkan 1.000 unit setiap bulannya, itu berarti mereka membutuhkan waktu satu tahun tiga bulan untuk memasarkan produk yang sudah ada. Dengan catatan, produksinya dihentikan sama sekali. Tetapi, menurut saya, angka seribu itu terlalu besar buat Timor ini. Ya, ratusan-lah. Kalau hanya ratusan, itu berarti butuh waktu puluhan bulan untuk memasarkannya. Mobilnya keburu rusak, kan?

Kalau Timor diberi subsidi, apa ruginya buat rakyat Indonesia?
Ruginya, rakyat diabaikan dalam alokasi keuangan negara. Sebab masih banyak kebutuhan nasional yang lebih besar yang perlu disubsidi. Misalnya beras, industri kecil, kerajinan tangan, dan sebagainya. Menurut saya, itu yang harus diprioritaskan, kalau pemerintah punya uang untuk memberi subsidi. Sebab kalau dihitung, fasilitas-fasilitas yang diberikan pada mobil Timor ini jumlahnya besar sekali, sekitar 800 juta dollar. Apa tidak lebih baik dana sejumlah itu disubsidikan pada sektor yang menyangkut nasib banyak orang?

Teenage Car Karya Siswa SMK

2011-05-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

Siswa SMK PGRI 6 Surabaya berhasil membuat mobil mungil bernama Teenage Car. Mobil yang dikerjakan hanya dalam waktu 33 hari ini mempu melaju dengan kecepatan hingga 60 Km/jam.

Mahasiswa Indonesia Siap Pecahkan Rekor Irit BBM

2011-05-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

Sebanyak 10 tim mahasiswa Indonesia yang terdiri dari berbagai perguruan tinggi akan mencoba memecahkan rekor irit BBM di sirkuit Sepang Malaysia dalam ajang Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2001 pada 6-9 Juli 2011 nanti.

Kesepuluh tim itu terdiri dari: Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) dengan tiga kendaraan irit BBM, Universitas Indonesia dengan 2 mobil irit BBM, ITB dengan 2 mobil irit BBM, UGM dengan 2 mobil, dan tim Politeknik Negeri Pontianak (Polnep) dengan 1 mobil irit. Polnep merupakan tim baru yang masuk dalam lomba irit kali ini, 4 perguruan tinggi lainnya sudah menjadi langganan.

Country Chairman dan President Director PT Shell Indonesia Darwin Silalahi menuturkan lomba irit ini terbagi dalam dua kategori yakni kendaraan urban dan kendaraan prototipe futuristik.

"Target konsumsi BBM tim mahasiswa Indonesia untuk kendaraan urban adalah 100-300 km per liter, sedangkan untuk kendaraan prototipe 600-1.500 km," ujarnya dalam peluncuran 10 kendaraan irit BBM mahasiswa di Parkir Selatan, Senayan, Sabtu (14/5/2011).

Indonesia tahun ini dalam posisi sebagai juara bertahan, mengingat tahun lalu, tim dari ITS dan UI menjadi juara Shell Eco-marathon.

"Saya sangat bahagia mendengar pada kompetisi sebelumnya sudah ada prestasi yang membahagiakan. Saya harap adik-adik bisa mencapai yang lebih tinggi lagi," ujar Wakil Presiden Boediono yang meluncurkan 10 kendaraan ini.

Selain Wapres, Mendiknas M Nuh dan Menteri ESDM Darwin Zahedy Saleh turut mendukung persiapan para mahasiswa.

Bagaimana rupa dan spesifikasi kendaraan irit mahasiswa itu tahun ini? Simak artikel berikutnya.

How To Build Your Own Car

2011-05-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby is probably the most popular "fun event" that a young Scout will participate.

The recognition of the time spent building the car may be seen as Pack prizes for the most colorful, most inventive, fastest, most "radical" and as many other categories as one can imagine. In the San Diego - Imperial council, the Cub with the fastest car in the Pack is eligible to compete with all the other Cubs from the Packs at the San Diego 500 held at the San Diego - Imperial Scout Fair.

Every year, boys with their parent's help, build cars of every description to enter at the local Pack competition. The construction of the car is intended to be a parent and son project with the son doing the majority of the work. The parent should supply the advise and limited assistance with the more difficult tasks. Please remember above all that the Pinewood Derby is supposed to be fun for all. So get started early and take your time building and testing your car. Plan to spend at least 4 to 6 hours building the car over several days. The experienced racers may spend many times this amount of time and it shows in the appearance and racing performance.

The planning and construction of your car may be approached in many ways. This information will serve only as a guide to some while providing good first-time information and pointers for others. The experienced wood craftsman will find the teaching experience a great project for a young man while the "Klutz" may find it just a little challenging. No matter, the time spent working and learning with your son should be a lot of fun.

If you're designing a car for speed here are the important points about car design to keep in mind.

o Sleek Shape

o Maximum Weight

o Smooth, Round Wheels

o Polished Axles

o Good Lubrication

o Straight Running

On the other hand if your objective is to create a unique or personal design then think about these points.

o Model your car after something you like or adapt a theme from a Cub Scout or other recognizable object or character.

o Use color and finish as a way to get your car noticed. A bright red or yellow paint job with a high gloss finish is always an attention getter.

o Attention to the details of car construction shows in the final product

o Design on paper before you start cutting wood

Construction Step 1 - The Plan (or What are we Doing?)

You may already have an idea as to what your car should look like when you're done but in order to take this idea to a completed form you should have a plan. Take a little time to sketch out your idea on paper. If you haven't decided what you want to do you may want to check out some possibilities. Look at the profiles provided in this guide to get some ideas. Draw your design at full scale so you can transfer the profile and shape to the wood block later. Ready-made templates or car outlines can be purchased at Scout supply outlets, the Scout Shop or Scout mail-order catalog. These will help you transfer a predefined profile to your car but are certainly not required. You may want to take a look at the templates in this web site for some ideas.

Starting with a block of wood is like a hand full of clay. What are you you going to do with it? What kind of car do want to build? Well, there are several basic types of car classifications cars that are fast, cars that are fast to build and then there are character cars. Character cars are cars that model other types of cars or objects. Remember that a highly decorative car with characters, decals and other trim will not be as aerodynamic as a "plain" car. The sleek low profile designs will tend to have less wind drag and therefore faster. The fast car is usually not a handsome car. Don't limit your design ideas but we'll talk about the plain, more aerodynamic designs and remember, you can paint car just about any way you you'd like.

Construction Step 2 - Gather Materials and Tools.

You will, of course, need the basic car kit that includes the wood block, axles, wheels and numeric decals. They cost $3.55 + applicable tax in the 2005 catalog. The kits produced since 1998 have unpredictable quality wheels in the kit and that may make it more difficult to produce a fast car every time. If you have still have an older kit it may be used as long as it is the Grand Prix series racer kit. Do not substitute the wheels and axles from non-BSA kits into your car design. This will make it illegal in most races and you can be disqualified.

You will need the following tools and additional materials: Safety Glasses (for drilling, sanding etc.)
Coping Saw (A Powered Dremel Saw or Scroll Saw may also be used)
Small File (Mill or Fine Cut)
3/8"/10 mm Drill Bit (a Brad point bit gives you better hole positions)
Electric Drill Motor
Tracing Paper
Small Strip of Soft Cloth (like an old Tee Shirt)
80 Grit and 220 Grit Garnet Sand Paper
400 or 600 Grit Wet or Dry Paper
Metal Polish (for polishing the axle)
3/8"/10 mm Tubular Weight (Available from Scout Shop or plumber supply)
Wood Putty (or better yet - plastic auto body filler)
Sanding Sealer or wood Primer
Finish Paint (Either Spray or Brush on)
Decals and Decorations as Desired

This set of tools and materials will vary depending what you have available and the extent of work you have in mind.

Construction Step 3 - Cutting the Basic Car Shape.

Decide how you want you car to look. Again, you may want to refer to the templates in this web site. When you have a design idea it's time to transfer the profile (side of the car) and plan view (top of the car) to your block of wood. The block included in your kit is usually close to 7 inches (17.8 cm) in length but may vary a little shorter or longer. Be careful to measure the final overall dimensions of the finished car to insure that your design does not violate the racing specifications.

Using your side profile drawing and a sheet of carbon tracing paper align the drawing to the block and carefully trace the outside lines of your car so that the image is transferred to the wood. If you prefer, you may find it just as easy to copy or duplicate your lines on the wood directly. Use a hard lead pencil or ball point-point pen so that the lines are easy to see when you're cutting.

Construction Step 4 - Wheel Mount Preparation.

Its been discovered over the years that cars with a longer wheelbase can be faster than shorter wheelbase cars. With this in mind you may want to consider relocating the two axle slots in the car block toward the ends of the block. Perform this modification only if your pack or local rules permit it. The San Diego 500 rules do permit this change.

Remember to set the wheel slots back at least half the diameter of the wheel so that it doesn't extend over the end of the car body. The overall length of the car (including wheels) cannot exceed seven inches. It is very important to cut the new axle slots exactly square to the sides of the block so that the axles provide a good alignment for tracking. An alternate method is to use a drill press to make the holes but in either method make sure that the final position of the axle isn't too high so that it creates a problem for the block dragging on the track's guide strip. Use a #43 (2.3 mm) drill bit. Insert the axles in each of the slots or holes so that you know they'll fit later. Install the axles at the top of the slots so that they have plenty wood under them. Now that we have opened the wood fiber remove the axles. We'll permanently install the wheels and axles after the paint has dried.

Construction Step 5 - Drilling Holes for Weight.

Your finished wood block along with the, wheels, axles and trim will not usually weigh much over 2.5 ounces (71 grams) while the finished car is allowed to weigh in up to 5.0 ounces (141.75 grams). Don't even think about skipping weight addition if you want to be race competitive. The weight of your car overcoming friction is what will allow to you to win over other cars. You must make gravity work for you. Your car must overcome both breakaway friction and minimize air resistance and it will do this by being as heavy as allowed while presenting the smallest profile to the air-stream. That's why we wanted the low and skinny body design.

There are two basic approaches to adding weight to a derby car. The easiest is to attach pre-drilled and shaped lead or zinc weights to the outside of the car. Some of the commercial varieties are cast such that they provide a tapered shape and break-off ribs that permit convenient adjustment to overall weight after the car is assembled. It is best to attach this type of weight to the bottom of the car so the center of gravity may be kept low. If you use this type of weight on the bottom of your car insure that the weight doesn't hang down too far. It may not be obvious until race-day but the weight could drag on the track guide. This could prevent the car from moving off the the starting line. Mortise or "hog out" a void in the wood on the underside of the car and then attach the weight inside the void.

The other method for adding weight involves the installation of weight internal to the body so that there is no additional wind resistance. This may be only a small advantage but it just might make the difference of a winning inch or two at the end of the track. Most car profiles will be narrower at the nose and provide little space for adding lead internally. There is an advantage in placing the weight in the back. The front wheels perform the function of guiding or steering and the less weight on these wheels the easier the car corrects itself when it strikes the guide strip. Fewer and shorter contacts with the guide strip means a faster car.

Drilling the Car Body. Each internally weighted car will have a little different cavity placement based on the wheel/axle position and amount of wood available to accommodate the weight. The hole or cavity for the lead weight must be large enough to accommodate the weight you using. You will need fewer holes for lead than you will for other materials. Plan on drilling at least 2 or 3 holes of 3/8" ( 10 mm) (or 7/16") diameter at a depth of 1 ½" (38 mm) each. Experience has shown that holes drilled from the side or back tend to work the best. Locate and drill the holes being careful not to drill all the way through the wood. Also make sure that you are leaving enough wood around the hole to provide a margin of safety in your drilling operation.

Construction Step 6 - Adding the Weight.

There are many things that you might use to add weight to the car but you will find that lead and zinc will probably be used most often. These are the heaviest materials easily available for their volume. Lead works easily and is commonly available in a number of forms. As options you can use steel in plate, tubular forms or even common bolts. Other metals may be used but just as steel you will find them difficult to work and sometimes awkward to attach or insert.

Warnings

Lead is toxic and should be handled as little as possible.

Use gloves and never put your hands in or near your mouth

after handling it. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling lead.

Do not use mercury at all! It is toxic, difficult to handle

and should not be touched by Cubs or adults.

Weigh your car on accurate scales. Most household scales are not very accurate. If you have access to calibrated scales compare a known item weight on the calibrated scales to your home scale indication for that same item. Mark this reference for use later. Allow for scale inaccuracies by not adding to exactly the 5.0 oz. (141.75 grams) indication. It is better to be slightly light than to have to remove weight on race day. Consider also, while you may have an accurate scale your pack may not. It could be weighing items heavier than they actually are!

Weigh your car body, wheels, axles and any other parts that will be on your car all at once. This weight is usually less than 3 ounces (85 grams). Now, with your car lying with the weight holes facing up carefully add your weight until the weight is just over 4.5 ounces (128 grams). Allow enough space in the holes so that you can add filler material in the next step. If you find there isn't enough room to add weight to get to 4.5 ounces (128 grams) you will have drill an additional hole or holes. Remember, you will be adding wood filler and paint to your car later and this will a little more weight. When you are satisfied go to the next step.

Construction Step 7 - Sealing the Holes.

Once that you have got the correct amount of weight installed you are ready to seal the hole(s) in your car body. There are a number of materials that you can use to cover the weight holes in car body. If you are in a hurry and want to insure a good seal try using automobile body putty (like Bondo®). This type of filler material is a two-part mix that sets in 15 minutes. You will need only a small amount but it works very easily and may be sanded, drilled and painted. Standard wood fillers that don't use a catalyst will take longer to harden (usually overnight) and may need to be applied with several thin coats. Apply the filler so that it may be sanded down smooth to the original wood surface. You'll want to recheck you total car weight at this time.

Construction Step 8 - Sanding and Smoothing.

Sanding the wood body will eliminate any of the saw blade marks as well as any small blemishes in the wood surface. If you have access to a motorized belt-disc sander your work will be quickly done but for most of us a sheet of sandpaper and a sanding block will do just fine. Start by using a 100 or 120 grit paper and wood or rubber block on the filler and rough portions of the wood car body. Gently smooth the edges and corners of the car while using a little more pressure on the flat areas. Then switch to a 220 grit paper to smooth the sanding marks left from the initial sanding. When you have the wood smoothed switch to the 400 grit paper. It will provide an excellent surface for your final finish. DO NOT WET-SAND UNPAINTED WOOD.

Construction Step 9 - Painting and Finishing.

The bare wood surface will act much like a sponge when your paint is first applied and it will take several coats of paint to seal and finish the wood. A better approach is to apply a wood sanding sealer to the wood. This acts like a primer coat for the wood and provides a good base to apply the color finish paint.

Prepare a place to paint your car that will be out of the house while you are painting and out of the reach of younger children while your car is drying. You may either paint one side at a time waiting between coats or suspend the car on a string with a nail in the axle slot and paint all of it. Brush or spray the sanding sealer on the car with a complete coat and wait for it to thoroughly dry. You will see that the grain of the wood will raise slightly. After the paint is thoroughly dry, sand it with 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper. You will find that the finish is smoother if you use a wet-sanding process. Wet the paper and the painted car body. Lightly sand until the sanding-sealer is smooth but not through the sealer to the wood.

You are now ready for the finish color coats of paint. The best and smoothest finishes will be had with a spray paint but brush-on paint will not effect the overall speed of the car. Use fast drying enamels and avoid using different brands on top of each other. Above all don't use lacquer paint on top of enamel paint. Your paint will wrinkle and bubble. If you get a run in the paint, let it dry and sand it smooth. Re-coat it later. You can achieve a very, very smooth finish if you wet-sand between coats with 600 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper. Your car can look like it has a glasslike finish with several coats of paint and fine sanding.

If you are going to apply decals and detail work now is time to do this type of work. If you are careful, you can apply a clear coat of finish over the decals to seal them. Don't use too much clear-coat at one time or you'll wrinkle the decals.

Construction Step 10 - Wheel Work.

Next to the weight of the car the wheels are the most important element in the car. The biggest problem is that there is not a great deal that you can legally do with them. You must insure that the wheels roll smoothly, in a straight line and roll very easily. The wheels included with kits manufactured through 1998 have a better quality wheel than that of previous kits. Kits produced in the 1999 race year were very inconsistent. Even still, there are things to check and fix on each of the wheels. First, the wheels must be perfectly round. The wheels are produced in Multi-cavity molds and some molds may produce slightly out-of-round wheels which will be slower than others. To check for this put the wheel on an axle and spin it. It should turn with the outside surface at a single reference point never varying. The run-out or the wheel movement along the axle axis should also be minimal. If you suspect the wheel is out-of-round discard it and buy just the axle-wheel kit ($2.35 for 5 wheels and axles) or another car kit at your Scout supply outlet. There isn't much you can do to correct a bad wheel. The wheels are all produced from a mold set and will all vary to some degree.

Check the wheel for burrs on the running surface of the tire and hub areas. These need to be freed of any extra plastic residue or molding marks. Most Packs and council races require the racers to do minimal work on the wheel surface. This means that the outside wheel surface can be sanded or filed to make it flat across the bottom of the "tire". To perform this work you may use either a very small machine screw or nail about 3 inches long to stack all 4 wheels onto and chuck them in to a drill motor. Using a fine flat mill file, turn the drill on and at an angle to the rotating wheels, apply very light pressure to the wheel surface touching at least two wheels at a time. Insure you don't create a rounded wheel surface which may be illegal. Alternately, purchase a commercially-available wheel turning kit from the Scout supply distributor or Pinecar® source. These wheel turning mandrels are designed to hold a single wheel in a drill motor for turning. Watch for the newer wheels with these mandrels, they may not fit. Again, observe the local rules for what may be allowed.

Construction Step 11 - Axle Polishing.

The 'nail' type axles that come in the Pinewood derby kit must be used in the construction of your of your car. These axles provide no bearing surface so there is friction between the plastic wheel surface and the metal axle. Since this friction reduces speed we need to minimize the contact surface area, make the surfaces smooth and lubricate the mating surfaces. It is usually against the rules to machine the plastic wheel and these procedures usually require a lathe or other tools not typically available to a Cub Scout. That still leaves the axle open to "play with". The following suggestions are things you can do with simple hand tolls to improve the performance of the axles.

Axle Burr Removal. First, the heads of the nails used as axles in the kit will often have a mold or casting mark in two places just where the head attaches to the shaft the nail. Remove this web of metal with a file being careful not to gouge or scratch the running surface of the shaft. This will prevent the axle from grinding the plastic hub area and slowing down your car. You might be surprised to how "out of round" the shaft of the axle really is. Chuck/secure the axle in a drill press or electric hand drill secured into a stable position.

Optional step. This step can be performed before actual polishing but is designed for those creating "the ultimate" racing machines. It's not necessary for the average racer. Use a fine flat file to reduce the overall diameter of the axle. To do this, chuck the pointed end of the axle into a drill press or drill motor that has been secured with a vise or clamp. Place the file against the rotating axle and apply even pressure while moving the file slowly. Do this until the area within ½" (10 mm) of the head is smaller than the rest of the axle body. The more metal that is removed the less contact surface available to create friction. The drawback to removing too much metal is that the axle becomes weaker and will not tolerate being dropped or withstand rough handling without bending. This is often a trial and error procedure with much testing required to result in a fast turning wheel. You will want to buy extra axles to try this and use the best of the lot for your car.

First-Surface Polishing. The axle can be finished to a high luster by following the steps detailed here. First, mount the axle in drill motor chuck exposing the head and the first 3/4" of the axle. Secure the drill so that it doesn't move. Now cut a piece of 400-600 grit wet or dry sandpaper to a strip approximately ½" (10 mm) wide and 4 to 6 inches (about 100mm) in length. Wet the surface of the sand paper with water or light machine oil, start the drill and loop the sandpaper over the axle and pull the paper back and forth like a shoe polish cloth. Work the paper until the metal is smooth in the wheel running area (next to the head of the axle). This usually takes about a minute for each axle. Now, using either pumice paste or metal polish in a soft cloth (like a tee-shirt), start the drill again and press the cloth and polish compound into the axle with a slight movement back and forth. This will also take about a minute. The finished axle will be very smooth and bright in appearance

Construction Step 12 - Lubrication.

The type of lubrication is usually restricted at most races to dry lubricants but there are great advantages to using the right lubrication. By the same token there is harm in using the wrong lubricate. First, we should discuss what it's all about.

The wheel should turn on the dry axle without any undo force but the friction between the two parts will quickly act to slow it down. It's this friction that you would like to eliminate. While we can't eliminate friction completely it can certainly be reduced. An automobile uses steel roller or ball bearings to reduce friction on its wheels but our car isn't permitted to use them. We can only lubricate what we already have. A lubricant is any agent that provides a reduction of friction. While there are many types of lubricants many will either not work on lightweight parts or are not formulated to work with plastics. Petroleum products such as motor and household oil may soften the plastic wheels. The wheels could, after a time, fail to turn at all. This is not the surprise you'd like on race day. Other liquid or aerosol lubricants include spray-on Teflon, WD-40, CRC and 3 in 1 oil. Except for Teflon, these are all petroleum based products which you'll want to avoid.

The most common and successfully used lubricants are the graphite formulations and Graphite-Moly blends. They provide a very thin plating of microscopic spheres that greatly reduce rolling friction. Plain graphite is available in hardware stores and some variety stores. When installing your wheels fill the axle hole of the wheel while capping the other side. Gently push the axle through the wheel. Do this several times and spin the wheel to help distribute the graphite through the running surface. A good test of the wheel, axle and the lubrication is a spin test. While holding the wheel in the axle in a horizontal position spin the wheel with a flick of your finger. It should spin freely, then slowly coming to a stop after 20 to 30 seconds. If it didn't spin that long take a close at your wheel clearance, axle finish and lubrication. Correct the problems than test them again.

Construction Step 13 - Wheel Installation and Alignment.

The guide strip on a pinewood derby track will keep the cars on the track and prevent them from hitting each other. This strip is necessary but each time your car's wheels hit it the car slows down a little. This is where wheel installation become important. If the car runs straight it will less often hit the guide strip.

There are a number of little tricks to consider in this stage of the car building. First, while you must run all 4 wheels they all don't necessarily have to touch the track surface. If each wheel has rolling resistance don't roll all of them. Simple. Usually, the best one to elevate off the track is one of the front wheels. Second, to prevent additional rolling resistance install the axles at an angle to the body so that wheels ride the end of the axle not against the car body. Install your wheels so that there is clearance between the body and wheel and insure that the car body surface has a hard finish (No washers though) next where the wheel hub might touch the body.

Test roll the car so that you are satisfied that the car rolls in a perfect line. Put the car on a flat board or other smooth surface that has a straight line scribed for reference. Lift the board so that the car begins to roll. It should roll very close to the line. If it doesn't, then a front end alignment is required. Slightly bend the wheel axle(s) to correct the drift.

Checking Alignment. Another test using a long smooth surface is to check for tracking or wheel alignment. Draw a straight reference line on your surface and place the car on the surface with the wheels on top of that line. Now elevate the surface to the rear of the car to start the car rolling. Your car should roll along the that line is its tracking straight.

Construction Step 14 - Other Testing.

Now that you have finished construction and initial wheel alignment of your car you will want to test and re-test your car

Mobil Murah, Jangan Mengulang Kesalahan Thailand

2011-05-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

Pemerintah tengah bernafsu membuat proyek mobil murah yang ramah lingkungan alias low cost car yang akan dijual seharga Rp 75-80 juta. Jika tidak ada halangan dalam waktu 2 tahun mobil murah itu akan terwujud.

Bagaimana skema dan kebijakan mobil murah? detikOto mewawancarai Dirjen Industri Unggulan Berbasis Teknologi Tinggi Kementerian Perindustrian, Budi Darmadi di kantornya, Jalan Gatot Subroto, Jakarta.

Berikut petikan wawancaranya.

Bagaimana kemajuan rumusan kebijakan mobil murah?

Regulasi sedang dirumuskan antar departemen.

Seperti apa low cost car yang diinginkan pemerintah, berapa kapasitas mesinnya?

Low cost car itu adalah sebuah program yang memberikan insentif fiskal untuk produsen yang bisa membuat mobil yang konsumsi bahan bakarnya irit. Sementara itu kita, ini sudah dirumuskan tapi kira-kira adalah 22 km per liter untuk mesin 1.000 cc dan dan 20 km per liter untuk mesin 1.200 cc. Kira-kira itu.

Tetapi kandungan lokalnya harus dibuat di Indonesia terutama engine, transmisi dan exhaust dalam tempo atau periode tertentu.

Landungan lokalnya 1.000 cc dan 1.200 nantinya sama 80 persen. Di tahun pertama 40 persen, selanjutnya harus 80 persen.

Kok regulasi lama keluarnya?

Ya karena kan harus dihitung standar apa yang dipakai, seperti konsumsi BBM, cara pengujian, untuk menentukan kandungan lokal, tahun ke berapa dia bisa memenuhi kandungan lokal.

Harus kita tanya dulu kesanggupannya gimana, kalau kita tentukan target terlalu tinggi, nanti gak ada yang bisa, gak ada yang ikut.

Kalau kita tentukan terlalu rendah, nanti akhirnya kita enggak ada kemandirian di bidang transmisi, engine, exhaust. Itu kan harus disurvei dulu.

Komponennya bisa dibuat enggak? Kita kan ada sekitar 800 komponen, kalau kita tentukan di tahun ketiga, ini bisa suplai tidak, kalau produsen angkat tangan, enggak bisa suplai, enggak jalan juga, nah itu perlu waktu.

Dan itu survei itu sedang dijalankan setahun ini, kok lama kan banyak yang harus dicek, engineering, teknologi dan ekonomisnya. jadi perlu waktu, enggak sembarangan.

Kita belajar dari Thailand. Thailand (program eco car) tidak begitu berhasil.

Karena Thailand menentukan target terlalu tinggi, akhirnya tidak ada yang bisa, akhirnya produsen angkat tangan, menyerah, akhirnya program itu tidak terlalu berhasil. Kita tidak ingin mengulangi kesalahan Thailand. (catatan redaksi: Di Thailand, pabrikan harus memproduksi 100.000 unit minimal)

Apa pabrikan diberi syarat kapasitas produksi yang harus dipenuhi?

Enggak

Minimal pabrikan setahun harus memproduksi berapa unit?

Ya tergantung kesanggupan masing-masing produsen. Tanya ke produsennya berapa you ekonomisnya. Harus agak smart. Sanggup tapi rugi, sanggup tapi untung? Mereka masing-masing punya nilai ekonomis, tiap produsen beda-beda.

Apa betul diwajikan memproduksi 100.000 per tahun?

Tidak tepat, setelah tahun ke berapa, pada tahun pertama susah sih.

Memang survei menyatakan bahwa potensi antara 300-600 ribu itu akan bisa terserap pertambahannya dalam penjualan mobil. Tapi itu tidak tahun pertama ya, tetapi setelah beberapa tahun diintroduce, jadi ada potensi berdasarkan hitungan statistik.

Ada berapa pabrikan yang tertarik?

Nanti kalau secara resmi akan diumumkan.

Katanya 3 merek pabrikan Jepang ingin masuk?

Sampai saat ini semua mereka sudah nanya, tetapi nanti yang benar-benar nanti kan akan berpikir, nanti tunggu regulasi jadi akan yang solid.

Bagaimana dukungan permerintah kepada produsen kecil?

Potensi pasar ini oleh dimanfaatkan oleh siapa saja. kita dukung industri kecil. Semuanya bisa.

Sudah banyak yang kita lakukan, kita bantu pas uji cobanya, riset dan pengembangannya, kan itu cukup mahal untuk riset.

Kalau masalah modal pabrikan kecil?

Modal, itu kan masalah perusahaan, kita tidak boleh membantu, tapi kita bantu dari sisi engineering-nya,

Kita kadang bantu di riset dan pengembangannya. Ini terbuka siapa saja, asal memenuhi syarat.

Horeeeeeeeee... Indonesia Siap Produksi 'Mobil KITA' Seharga Rp 30-40 juta

2011-05-04T05:40:00.000-07:00

Pemerintah berencana untuk memproduksi mobil murah bernama 'Mobil KITA' seharga 30-40 juta per unit. Rencananya akan diproduksi 2 juta unit mobil murah hingga 2020 nanti.

Deputi Menko Perekonomian Bidang Industri dan Perdagangan Edy Putra Irawadi menyatakan mobil murah tersebut ada 2 jenis yaitu mobil kluster IV dan mobil low cost. Untuk mobil kluster IV, harganya sekitar Rp 30-40 juta per unit, sedangkan harga mobil low cost akan dijual dengan kisaran Rp 80 juta per unit.

"Kalau yang kluster IV itu Rp 30-40 juta, yang low cost Rp 80 jutaan," ujarnya dalam diskusi dengan wartawan di Kantornya, Jalan Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, Kamis (4/5/2011).

Menurut Edy, produksi mobil murah tersebut diusahakan untuk meningkatan industri otomotif di dalam negeri. "Supaya turn over policy lebih cepat, jadi jangan ditahan demand itu," ungkapnya.

Edy menegaskan mobil murah tersebut tidak akan meningkatkan penggunaan premium yang rencananya akan dibatasi konsumsinya. Pasalnya, untuk mobil low cost menggunakan bahan bakar gas. Namun, meskipun mobil kluster IV menggunakan BBM, Edy yakin mobil-mobil lama bisa ditekan penggunaannya dengan pemberlakuan pajak progresif untuk kendaraan.

"Kita kan ada fiscal policy, makin tua makin mahal pajaknya, pajak progresif dan ada policy rangsangan, misalnya ada daerah yang mau narik mobil lama, maka akan nol persen pajaknya," tukas Edy.

Mobil murah ini akan menjadi mobil nasional karena penggunaan komposisi bahan baku lokalnya lebih banyak. "Ini nanti namanya Mobil KITA kan sudah ada Minyakita," ungkapnya.

Penggunaan bahan baku lokal ini yang menyebabkan harga mobil ini sangat murah. Karena selama ini mobil impor yang digunakan masyarakat Indonesia memiliki biaya yang besar karena beban negara pengekspor dilimpahkan ke negara-negara pengimpor mobil tersebut, termasuk Indonesia.

"Borosnya itu karena, beban ekonomi negaranya itu banyak ke kita. Padahal bahan baku lokal naik, tenaga kerja menurun. Lalu ada biaya administratif, itu yang bikin mahal. Makanya, kita harus menggunakan bahan dari negara yang telah ada perjanjian 0 persen untuk bea masuk," ujarnya.

Rising prospect of Indonesian automotive industry

2011-05-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Johnny Darmawan is certainly not an ordinary man. Being the CEO of Toyota Astra Motor, he certainly has a full grasp of what is happening in the automotive industry and the way forward.

His company enjoys the largest market share in the industry that makes him the ultimate representative of the Indonesian car manufacturing industry. He frequently speaks on behalf of the Indonesian Car Manufacturing Association.

For 2010, Darmawan initially predicted that the Indonesian domestic car sales may reach 550,000 units, a number deemed optimistic when it was first stated at the end of 2009. At that time, the industry had just been bruised from a steep fall in its sales from 607,000 units in 2008 to 486,000 in 2009, an almost 20 percent drop.

It is no surprise that the industry has been deemed quite optimistic in saying that there would be a partial rebound in domestic sales compared to the 2008 record. But since then the domestic market has been moving very briskly.

In the first five months of the year, the Indonesian car sales already reached a level of around 300,000 units.

In fact, the last three months the sales hovered to more than 60,000 units every month. It is no surprise therefore that Darmawan finally revised upward the Indonesian car sales prediction in 2010 from 550,000 units to 650,000, an almost 20 percent upward revision in one year's time.

Where is the way forward? Recently there was an interesting article in the Financial Times about the rise of the Brazilian car industry. It was stated that the Brazilian car industry was becoming the fourth largest industry in the world in 2010, overtaking Germany.

Having recovered from the crisis at the end of the 90s, the Brazilian car industry quickly covered ground and made a quick rebound. What was the result?

The car sales have increased sharply from almost 1.5 million units in 2000 to more than 3 million in 2009. A twofold increase in 10 years time is certainly a miraculous come back for the industry.

Quite different to the aerospace industry in which Brazil boasted its icon Embraer Aerospace Industry, which has positioned itself as the third largest aircraft producer after Boeing and Airbus (the rank may be reversed), the Brazilian car industry was crowded by various foreign names such as Fiat, Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Toyota and many others.

Fiat, being the first ranked car producers in Brazil with its popular Pinto and Fiesta brand, has produced more cars in Brazil than in its headquarters in Italy.

Volkswagen, ranked number two in Brazil, is also churning many products in the country. General Motors and Ford are the two North American car industries that so far have to admit defeats to the European car manufacturers in its backyard.

The Brazilian success story in its car industrial development may provide some lessons to the Indonesian car industry on the way the Indonesian industry will lead. Looking back to the past, the Indonesian car industry also experienced a "roller coaster" like development.

Sometimes the sales increased very sharply while on other occasion it experienced a steep drop. The development is far from being linier. However, looking at a longer perspective, the Indonesian car industry has continued to grow, in fact to grow very rapidly.

As mentioned earlier, in 2008, the Indonesian car industry has made record breaking sales of more than 600,000 units.

In addition, the Indonesian industry also actively sold its products to overseas markets. While the data are quite scanty, inferring from the BPS (Central Statistics Agency), we can predict that the Indonesian car exports (both in the form of Completely Built Up, Completely Knocked Down or in the form of components) may reach around 300,000 units.

Thus both the domestic and export car sales have almost touched the psychological level of 1 million cars annually. If that number is achieved, we may have to celebrate it as one milestone for the Indonesian car industry.

Just like what has been achieved by the Brazilian car industry in 2000, we may have approached that level in the not-too-distant future, 10 years behind Brazil.

Recently, Hino truck manufacturers has just expanded its truck production capacity from 10,000 units annually to 35,000 in Indonesia. This event marked the optimism of the company on the prospect of Indonesia. In different occasion Johnny Darmawan also stated that Toyota Indonesia will have to increase its Fortuner production to cater the Middle East and the Philippines market this year.

"I continue to believe that the Indonesian lead in this rank will sustain.This will make Indonesia the country with the strongest car industry in ASEAN. "

The demand for domestic sales as well as for export markets for Fortuner has been quite strong recently. Volkswagen officials have also stated that they will build a factory in Indonesia in 2012 for a full car manufacturing while this year they will start assembling its MPV, Touran, in cooperation with Indomobil.

One Korean car manufacturer is also in the process of deciding whether to put its factory in Indonesia or in Vietnam. Again, this shows the optimism of the global car manufacturers on the prospect of the Indonesian car industry.

In the mean time, the mathematics of demography has shown its magic in the last few months.

Indonesia has always stood at the third rank of the ASEAN car industry. However, in the last four months, Indonesian car sales have started to exceed its counterparts in Thailand and Malaysia.

As displayed in my previous articles, the number of the Indonesian people that belongs to the middle class is larger than the entire Malaysian population.

Similarly, 30 percent of the Indonesian population, slightly larger than the entire Thailand population, has a greater average income than the entire Thailand population. Therefore, that demographic picture and the distribution of income will eventually be reflected in the cars demand.

I continue to believe that the Indonesian lead in this rank will sustain and in fact the gap will widen in the next few years. This will make Indonesia the country with the strongest car industry in ASEAN.

I have predicted earlier that the Indonesian domestic car sales in 2010 will be in the range of 610,000 to 650,000 units. With the performance of the last five months, that target may be exceeded as long as the economic environment does not change significantly.

While I share the optimism of Johnny Darmawan for a 650,000-unit domestic car sales prediction for 2010, I will not be surprised if the car sales this year may reach higher than 700,000 units.

In the long-term prospect, Indonesia may hit its first million annual car sales in the next two to three years. With the pattern depicted by the Brazilian car industry, we may have 2 million sales in the next 10 years.

This prospect will be the center of attention of the global car manufacturers. For those who have been in the country, they will certainly prepare to expand. For those who are still outside, they will have to think about when to penetrate.

Industri Otomotif Nasional Harus Kuat

2011-05-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ketua III Gabungan Industri Kendaraan Bermotor Indonesia Johnny Darmawan mengatakan, Indonesia wajib memperkuat industri komponen otomotif di Indonesia. Pasalnya, gempa yang terjadi di Jepang, Maret 2011, membuat industri otomotif Tanah Air mengalami gangguan pasokan kendaraan dan suku cadang.

Johnny menjelaskan, Indonesia merupakan pasar otomotif terbesar di Asia Tenggara dan terus menunjukkan peningkatan dari tahun ke tahun. Kesiapan industri otomotif dan pendukungnya menjadi sesuatu yang mutlak. Guna merealisasikan hal ini, Gabungan Industri Kendaraan Bermotor Indonesia (Gaikindo) berharap dukungan dari pemerintah, khususnya dalam hal perbaikan infrastruktur dan ketersediaan energi.

"Kita harus mulai memikirkan bagaimana memajukan industri otomotif nasional agar Indonesia bisa menjadi basis produksi. Ekspor menjadi salah satu keunggulan suatu negara ketika ditunjuk sebagai basis produksi," ujar Johnny yang juga Ketua Penyelenggara Indonesia International Motor Show 2011 (Ketua Penyelenggara IIMS 2011) dalam keterangan resmi yang diterima Kompas.com, hari ini (3/5/2011).

Sementara itu, guna menggali pengembangan industri otomotif lokal, Gaikindo akan menggelar The 6th Indonesia International Automotive Conference bertema "The Indonesian Automotive Industry Post 1 Million Cars" di JIExpo, Jakarta, 21 Mei mendatang. Pada kegiatan ini diharapkan para pemegang keputusan otomotif Indonesia bisa menghasilkan satu agenda besar terkait masa depan industri ke depan, ke arah pengembangan teknologi ramah lingkungan.

Konferensi ini merupakan agenda tahunan yang akan dilaksanakan Gaikindo sebelum IIMS digelar pada Juli 2011. Tahun ini, Gaikindo juga menyambut kehadiran Pertamina sebagai sponsor utama pameran otomotif terbesar ini. Selain itu, Tokobagus.com sebagai sponsor pun turut memeriahkan perhelatan IIMS 2011. "Sebagai situs jual beli online terbesar di Indonesia yang kali ini berkesempatan mendukung event IIMS 2011, kami merasa antusias dan optimistis bahwa ajang tahun ini juga akan semarak sebagaimana tahun-tahun sebelumnya," kata Arnold Sebastian Egg, Presiden Direktur Tokobagus.com.

PT INKA segera membangun jaringan marketing dan aftersales GEA di seluruh Indonesia

2011-04-28T01:28:00.000-07:00

Mobil nasional GEA produksi PT INKA yang rencananya akan dilaunching di Jakarta pada akhir Oktober 2010, sudah banyak peminatnya. Sayang, saat ini cuma bisa dibeli di Koperasi.

Dalam dua hari, mobil yang dipamerkan di acara Pameran dan Seminar Produk Alat Transportasi di gedung Gramedia Expo di Jalan Basuki Rahmat, Surabaya, sudah ada 33 orang yang memesan.

“Ya lumayan bagus. Masyarakat sangat antusias dan ingin membeli GEA,” ujar Ridwan tim GEA di lokasi pameran kepada detikOto, Jumat (1/10/2010).

Ridwan mengatakan, berdasarkan kebijakan perusahaan, mobil yang kapasitas penumpangnya 4 orang dan berbahan bakar Bio Fuel Engine (Premium dan LPG) seharga dibawah Rp 50 juta itu, tidak dijual retail atau perorangan.

“Banyak yang ingin langsung membeli dan ada yang ingin meminta kartu nama. Tapi tahap awal ini, penjualannya melalui koperasi. Usaha yang mempunyai koperasi bisa mengajukan, minimal pembeliannya 25 unit,” tuturnya.

GEA diprediksi dapat menarik masyarakat, untuk memilikinya sebagai micro car 650 CC, yang ekonomis, lincah dan tangguh. Namun, hanya bisa dibeli di koperasi.

“Kenapa kita pilih koperasi, karena suplai spare partnya maupun layanan service bisa ke koperasi tersebut,” tuturnya.

GEA adalah mobil micro car yang sistem pengeraknya, tipe intak : penggerak depan. Daya maksimum kapasitas : 20 kw/5300 rpm (650 CC). Suspensi depan maupun belakang dengan menggunakan Per keong dengan peredam kejut.

Transmisi mobil nasional ini tipenya manual dengan tingkat kecepatan 4 tingkat. Pengereman depan dengan menggunakan Disk Brake, sedangkan belakang rem tromol.

Dimensinya, mempunyai panjang 3.210 mm, lebar 1.430 mm, tinggi 1.705, jarak roda 1.984 mm, jarak tapak roda depan 1.277 mm dan jarak tapak roda belakang 1.267 mm. Kapasitas penumpang sebanyak 4 -5 orang dan kapasitas tangki sebanyak 30 liter, dengan perbandingan 1 : 25.

Setelah kantor pos, polri kini BUMN dan pemda seharusnya memiliki armada GEA karena super irit = 1:30

2011-04-28T01:23:00.000-07:00

Meski menempatkan institusi sebagai bidikan pertama, PT INKA optimis mobil GEA juga akan mendapat sambutan publik (perseorangan). Pasalnya, konsumsi BBM GEA terbilang irit. 1 liter premium bisa untuk 30 km. Lalu bagaimana purna jualnya? Bagaimana soal perawatan dan ketersediaan suku cadang? PT INKA selaku produsen menyadari betul hal itu, karenanya jika jadi dipasarkan PT INKA berjanji segera juga membangun jaringan marketing dan aftersales di pelbagai kota.

“Kedepannya juga akan melakukan penjaringan marketing – marketing dari kelembagan yang ada di kota – kota besar namun kesemuanya masih menunggu hasil tes ujicoba oleh BPPT (Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi) di Jakarta,” ujar Humas PT Inka Fathor Rashid, Rabu (8/10/2008).

Rencana membuat jaringan besar untuk GEA tersebut tentunya juga menunggu respon dari masyarakat. Apabila publik juga antusias terhadap GEA, PT INKA tak kan menunggu lama untuk membuat jaringan aftersales di berbagai kota. “Semua bisa memiliki mobil GEA karena saya yakin nyaman dan irit BBM. Suku cadangnya murah dan perawatannya bisa dimana saja, sehingga daya beli masyarat juga banyak," jelas Rashid.

Rashid pribadi optimis GEA akan mendapat sambutan. Pasalnya, prilaku sebagian besar konsumen lokal cenderung menyukai mobil yang irit bahan bakar. Terlebih di jaman harga minyak naik gila-gila-an seperti saat ini. Nah, GEA menurutnya memberi solusi. Jika mempergunakan bahan bakar premium, menurut Rashid, konsumsi BBM GEA bisa mencapai 25-30 km untuk setiap liternya.Angka itu sudah nampak dalam hasil ujicoba yang telah dilakukan pada jalur Madiun, Ngawi, Ponorogo, Pacitan dan Magetan. "Dari pengujian 10 ribu Km tersebut selama 3 bulan mulai April hingga Juli oleh tim kami, terbukti memang irit dan suara mesin pun nyaris tidak bunyi," tambah Rasyid. Soal tanjakan jangan khawatir, jalur Sarangan yang penuh tanjakan pun menurut Rashid, mampu dilalui GEA.

Selain soal konsumsi BBM, harga yang murah dan perawatan yang mudah juga dihitung Rashid sebagai keunggulan kompetitif GEA dibandingkan kompetitornya kelak. Kalau sudah mendapat lampu hijau dari BPPT, PT INKA memprediksi bisa memberi harga GEA pada bandrol Rp 45- Rp 50 juta per unit.

GEA saat ini tengah dikembangkan oleh PT INKA dan telah menjalani ujicoba 10.000 km. Bahan bakar GEA diutamakan menggunakan BBG namun terbuka opsi untuk juga mengunakan BBM Premium mengingat tingkat konsumsinya yang sedikit. PT INKA sendiri masih memprioritaskan pasar institusi jikalau GEA nanti lolos uji BPPT. Namun, pasar personal juga dibuka lebar.

Medco Plans to Provide Natural Gas For Vehicles

2011-04-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

Oil and gas company Medco E&P Indonesia aims to expand its downstream and retail business to offer natural gas to fuel vehicles starting next year, an executive said on Tuesday.

“We will try to expand to fuel for vehicles to compensate for our stagnant upstream business,” said Budi Basuki, president director of Medco E&P.

Demand for compressed natural gas for vehicles is low, and only Pertamina gas stations provide CNG, with its use limited to TransJakarta buses.

Medco E&P, a unit of Medco Energi Internasional, has three oil and gas blocks in Indonesia that produce about 180 million cubic feet per day of natural gas and 30,000 barrels of oil per day. Among the buyers for its gas are Palembang-based fertilizer company Pupuk Sriwijaya and state utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara’s power plant in South Sulawesi.

Given its gas production, Budi said Medco E&P has committed to provide up to 25 mmscfd for Jakarta. It plans to build one gas station in the capital next year.

“I hope we can start to sell gas fuel next year,” he said, adding that building a gas station would require about Rp 1 billion ($116,000) in investment.

The money will come from the company’s capital expenditure fund. It has allocated $233 million for capital expenditure this year, double its capex spending from last year, as it continues to exploit its oil and gas fields, including its 29.9 percent stake in the Donggi-Senoro natural gas project.

Budi said the plan was one of the company’s strategies to develop cleaner energy for vehicles.

“We will try to build the natural gas station first. Then we will cooperate with other parties, such as the government, to provide converter kits for vehicles,” he said.

Medco E&P has an agreement with Mandiri, a small company that provides CNG for vehicles in Palembang, to study the demand for the fuel in Jakarta.

“That also includes a strategy on how we can campaign for more CNG use by vehicles,” Budi said.

Amsterdam Targetkan 10.000 Mobil Listrik pada 2015

2011-04-25T00:33:00.000-07:00

Salah satu cara yang dilakukan pemerintah kota Asmterdam, Belanda untuk mendorong penduduknya menggunakan (juga membeli) mobil listrik adalah menyediakan inftrastruktur lebih awal.

Kendati jumlah mobil listrik atau hibrida plug-in di kota itu masih belum banyak, sesuai dengan target pemerintah kota tersebut pada 2015, yaitu 10.000 mobil listrik, mulai tahun ini dicanangkan memasang tempat pengisian baterainya.

Untuk itu, Pemerintah Kota Amsterdam, meminta penggelola energi Belanda, Essent milik RWE AG, Jerman untuk memasang paling kurang 125 tempat pengisian baterai buat umum. Jumlahnya bisa saja ditambah menjadi 750 tempat dan dihrapkan rampung pada semester pertama tahun ini.

Dengan cara ini, Amsterdam berharap akan menjadi salah satu trendsetter kota di Eropa untuk mobilitas listrik. “Kontrak ini sangat penting bagi Essent dan RWE. Ini untuk pertama kalinya di Belanda, sebuah kota bisa dicapai oleh mobil listrik sampai ke pelosok. Nantinya mobil listrik menjadi bagian dari kota ini,” kata Peter Terium, CEO Essent.

“Stasiun pengisian baterai di Amsterdam dibuat oleh RWE. Perusahaan ini sudah berpengalaman memasang sistem pengisaian baterai di Eropa, antara lain Jerman, Polandia, Hungrian dan Austria.

“Setelah Berlin, kami melihat Asmterdam sebagai proyek metropolitan kedua di Eropa dengan target mobil listrik bisa beroperasi di seluruh kota,” kata Ingo Alpheus, CEO RWE Effizienz GmbH. Perusahaan ini mengakata sudah memasang 800 tempat pengisian baterai di 14 negara Eropa.

Volkswagen Beetle 2012 Hasil Karya Desainer Indonesia

2011-04-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta - Desain ulang Volkswagen Beetle telah dipikirkan sejak 2007 dan benar-benar merupakan upaya global. Mobil itu akhirnya terungkap pada hari Senin di New York dan Shanghai, dan akan diproduksi di Meksiko.

Mobil itu merupakan hasil sketsa selama empat tahun dari seorang desainer Indonesia yang mengonsep ulang mobil impiannya itu menjadi kenyataan di Beetle 2012.

Chris Lesmana membuat desain yang menjadi headline minggu ini, dan dengan beberapa penyesuaian proporsional, impiannya itu akan menjadi kenyataan di jalan-jalan Amerika musim gugur ini.

Lesmana yang saat ini tinggal di Jerman tidak bisa datang ke acara peluncuran di AS karena tugas keluarga, tapi ia diharapkan menghadiri acara Beetle di Berlin.

Desainer Exterior Frank Bruse yang mewakili Lesmana di New York menggambarkan upaya Lesmana itu kepada AutoWeek sebagai "seseorang yang dapat merancang versinya tentang mobil impian."

Lesmana dan Bruse tumbuh bersama Beetle sebagai mobil keluarga dan desain yang lama lebih terbawa ke versi baru. Mobil terbaru ini yang lebih bundar dan condong diarahkan ke pengguna wanita. Model 2012 itu memiliki atap lebih rendah, roda yang lebih besar, atap panjang, dan interior yang sporty --minus vas bunga.

"Ini jauh lebih dekat dengan yang lama daripada Beetle baru," kata Bruse tentang produk terbaru. "Kami memutuskan untuk kembali ke tema awal."

Rancangan itu telah memenangkan perhatian bos Grup Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, yang memberi lampu hijau untuk rancangan akhir yang merupakan gagasan Lesmana.

"Rancangan itu begitu baik di awalnya, kami hampir tidak mengubahnya," kata Bruse.

Dengan 23 juta terjual di seluruh dunia selama jangka panjang--termasuk enam juta di Amerika Serikat--Beetle bukan subjek mudah untuk mengalami penyegaran. Mobil itu telah didesain ulang dua kali dalam perjalanan untuk menjadi kekuatan penjualan dan ikon budaya VW di seluruh dunia.

Versi convertible akan menyusul tahun depan dan versi R line juga diharapkan menyusul. Desain baru ini ditandai dengan spatbor semakin ditarik ke luar, lampu bixenon, dan interior yang berwarna-warni, dengan dashboard sesuai warna badan mobil.

"Anda tidak mengubah mobil seperti itu secara iseng," kata Kepala Volkswagen, AS Jonathan Browning.

Indonesia's MLRS range 10-400 km

2011-04-20T17:25:00.000-07:00

A multiple rocket launcher (MRL) is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower (sustained) rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns.

However, they have the capability of simultaneously dropping many hundreds of kilograms of explosive, with devastating effect.

First developed in 1409, the Korean Hwacha is the most likely example of the first weapon system with a resemblance to the modern-day multiple rocket launcher. The first modern multiple rocket launcher was the German Nebelwerfer of the 1930s, a small towed artillery piece. Only later in World War II did the Allies deploy similar weapons in the form of the Land Mattress.

NDL-40
NPU-70
The Indonesian designed and built NDL-40 Ground to Ground Multi Launcher 2.75", Rocket System has been designed and is in the process of testing. This devices used as FFAR 2.75" Multi-Launch Rocket System. The FFAR 2.75 " rocket system is a ground-to-ground weapon system designed to support infantry units in the field. Each system is comprised of 4 modules, each containing 5 rockets (a total of 20 rockets in a system). The modules may be used independently of each other or in any combination with any other module. This provides many useful configurations for the support of field infantry units. The NDL-40 system operator is approximately 15 meters away from the actual launchers and may adjust the fire control system to variety of different settings. The firing time (0.1 to 9.9 seconds interval) as well as the mode of launch (single, ripple or salvo firing) may be determined by the field operator.

FFAR 2.75" (70 mm or 2.75") rockets motors are manufactured by the flow forming process. The first batch underwater dynamic testing was successfully done in June 1985. This was the last test required in work frame of certification testing. This dynamic test was a success and since then the flowformed tubes were used in production of the FFAR. By using the rocket launcher [also called LAU 97] that has 40 launching tubes and enables "single" or "ripple" firing, the rocket can be fired within 6 seconds each. The impact pattern for such firing is 200 m x 300 m. The rocket launcher it self can go through a 360� azimuth position and has a maximum elevation of 50�. Its unladen weight is 365 kg.; with 40 rockets fitted with the FZ-71 warhead, it weights 935 kg. For firing the rockets one must reckon upon an interval of 150 msec with a "ripple" firing. Its high mobility and firing power make it a highly effective weapon. By using the MK-40 motor, its range is about 6,000 m. and when used with FZ-68 motor its range is about 8,000 m.

NPU-70 (Nusantara Poly-Urethane 70) is developed by IPTN at the stage of technological integration, while prior to this, during the stage of licensing, the factory manufactured FFAR 2.75" and SUT. Rockets with a surface-to-surface launching system and/or 70 mm caliber, NPU-70, will be produced by IPTN are already on a stage of research qualification and installed component development testing. The serial production was scheduled to take place in 1994/1995.

The first iron-cased metal-cylinder rocket artillery were developed by Tipu Sultan, an Indian ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, and his father Hyder Ali, in the 1780s. He successfully used these metal-cylinder rockets against the larger forces of the British East India Company during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The Mysore rockets of this period were much more advanced than what the British had seen, chiefly because of the use of iron tubes for holding the propellant; this enabled higher thrust and longer range for the missile (up to 2 km range).

According to Stephen Oliver Fought and John F. Guilmartin, Jr. in Encyclopedia Britannica (2008): "Hyder Ali, prince of Mysore, developed war rockets with an important change: the use of metal cylinders to contain the combustion powder. Although the hammered soft iron he used was crude, the bursting strength of the container of black powder was much higher than the earlier paper construction. Thus a greater internal pressure was possible, with a resultant greater thrust of the propulsive jet.

The rocket body was lashed with leather thongs to a long bamboo stick. Range was perhaps up to three-quarters of a mile (more than a kilometre). Although individually these rockets were not accurate, dispersion error became less important when large numbers were fired rapidly in mass attacks.

They were particularly effective against cavalry and were hurled into the air, after lighting, or skimmed along the hard dry ground. Hyder Ali's son, Tippu Sultan, continued to develop and expand the use of rocket weapons, reportedly increasing the number of rocket troops from 1,200 to a corps of 5,000. In battles at Seringapatam in 1792 and 1799 these rockets were used with considerable effect against the British."

After Tipu's eventual defeat in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the Mysore iron rockets were captured by the British. These rockets were influential in British rocket development, inspiring the Congreve rocket, which were soon put into use in the Napoleonic Wars, including at the Battle of Waterloo. Ironically, the technology of metal-cylinder missiles developed by Tipu Sultan contributed to the defeat of his ally Napoleon at Waterloo.

Indonesia's MLRS using Anoa

Rocket Kal 122mm D230 Range: 20-30km

RX 1215 Range: 15km
Guided RX 2020 Range: 44km
Rocket X 1210 Range: 11km

RX 1213 Range: 12km folded fin
RX 1213/1210 Range: 18km fixed fin separasi

Rocket RX-420 Range: 110 km Speed: 4,4 mach

RX-250 Range: 50 km

RX-320

NDL-40

Roket R-Han 122 MLRS

RX 540

RX 750

1. RX-100 MLRS
diameter 110 mm, range 11 km

2. RX-150-120 MLRS
Diameter 150 mm, range: 13 km

3. RX-240 MLRS
diameter 240 mm range jangkauan 24 km

4. RX-250 MLRS
diameter 250 mm range 27,9 km

5. RX-320 MLRS
diameter 320 mm

6. RX-420 MLRS
Diameter 420 mm range 101 km

7. RX-520 MLRS
diameter 520 mm range range: 200 km

8. RX-530 MLRS
diameter 530 mm range 320 km

Comparisons:

Malaysia Astros MLRS

Singaporean MLRS M142 (HIMARS)

Thailand DT-1 multiple launch rocket system

China WS-2 MLRS

The South Korean K-136 Kooryong MLRS

Others

Iran Khodro unveils luxury car Dena

2011-04-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

Iran's leading automaker, Iran Khodro, has unveiled its fourth domestically-built car — dubbed Dena — which will hit the markets in April 2012.

Iranian Minister of Industries and Mines Ali Akbar Mehrabian told Press TV on Saturday that the new car has been designed and manufactured by Iranian experts and complies with Euro IV and Euro V emission standards.

The Iranian minister noted that Dena meets the latest motor vehicle safety requirements and will replace the country's previous national car, Samand, by the end of the year.

According to Mehrabian, Dena is the most luxurious Iranian automobile.

"We already have markets in 30 counties. Last year, we exported 40 thousand automobiles, and now with Dena we are targeting luxury car markets,” Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) CEO Javad Najmeddin told Press TV.

The largest carmaker in the Middle East, IKCO, plans to increase its production to 730,000 vehicles a year by the end of 2011, and raise the volume of exports to more than 600,000 cars by 2016.

Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Ukraine, and Egypt, are among the main target markets of the company.

The mid-size four-door class-D sedan has an Iranian-built EF7 engine that produces 113 horsepower and a fuel efficiency rating of 7.2 liters per 100 kilometers.

Dena comes in two models of LX and ELX. The former is outfitted with an EF7 gasoline engine and a CNG-based engine. The ELX version is equipped with a turbo-charged EF7 engine.

A manual gearbox is fitted in the car, but an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system could be a future possible option.

IKCO plans to manufacture 35,000 units of Dena in 2012, 80,000 units in 2013 and 100,000 units between 2015 and 2017.

Indonesia the largest Daihatsu producer in the world

2011-04-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

Japanese car manufacturer Daihatsu Motor Co. plans to invest 15 billion yen (126 million U.S. dollars) in its Indonesian plant with an aim to become the country's largest auto maker, local press said Tuesday.

Daihatsu Motor Co., Japans biggest minicar producer, will boost manufacturing capacity in Indonesia and make the Southeast Asian nation its center for overseas exports. The company will boost output capacity in Indonesia to 300,000 vehicles from 210,000, president Ter-uyuki Minoura said in an interview at the companys headquarters in Ikeda-City, Osaka.

Minoura didnt say when the addition would occur. "We will increase the capacity gradually," Minoura said. The "environment is really good" in Indonesia. Daihatsu said on Dec. 24 that it expects overseas output to increase by 20 percent this year to 295,000 units. Production in Indonesia will increase to 108,000 cars from 82,000.

The company, which is 51 percent owned by Toyota Motor Corp., in November boosted its full-year profit forecast, citing "solid" domestic and overseas sales. The company now forecasts net income of V13 billion (US$142 million) and operating profit of 26 billion yen on sales of ¥1.45 trillion for the year ending in March.

Daihatsu exported 3,100 cars in the 11 months through November from Indonesia to countries including Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.That compares with 1,500 vehicles shipped overseas from Malaysia in the 10 months through October, the latest figure available.

The minicar maker may reenter the Chinese market with Toyota, Minoura said without providing details.

Earlier this month Daihatsu canceled a joint venture in China with FAW Jilin Automobile Co. Daihatsu began selling cars in the worlds biggest auto market in 2007 and sold a total of 9,500 until last year, spokesman Shozo Shimizu said Tuesday.

Maleo: Indonesia’s National Car

2011-04-15T00:51:00.000-07:00

Indonesia’s national car or sometimes called as mobnas (mobil nasional) is a made in Indonesia car. Its characteristic is low cost and environmentally friendly. Indonesia has reiterated its commitment to lead the largest automotive market in ASEAN in 2012.

National markets should be offered a car at an affordable price and environmentally friendly (low cost and green car). This step is again sought the government - in this case the Ministry of Industry - along with several manufacturers in the country.

"If next year I'm still not sure, but if the 2012's for sure. From my calculations, low cost products and a green car had started to be marketed in 2012 and it will boost national sales," said Director General of Transport Equipment and Telematics Ministry of Industry (Kepermenperin) Budi Darmadi few days ago. Indonesia’s national car market reached 603,744 units per year.

To pursue its commitment, Indonesia develops some cars. One of it is Maleo.

Male was developed by BJ Habibie in 1996 with the benchmark price target of not more than Rp. 30 million ($3000). The car equipped with an engine with a capacity of 1300 cc. Over 80% of its component is locally made.

From the early lauch of Maleo, Indonesia’s government via BPIS embraced the idea to make the car to boot Indonesia as the largest automotive industry in ASEAN.

Dr B.J. Habibie the Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology, has stated in the Indonesian Parliament that the Orbital Combustion Process (OCP) engine has been selected as the powerplant for the Indonesian national car project named Maleo.

Dr Habibie was speaking at a parliamentary hearing with the House Commission X on Science, Research and Development, National Planning and the Environment. Maleo is designed as a passenger car and is set for production in 1998.

Fitted with the 1.2 litre three cylinder OCP engine, the vehicle will deliver world-class performance and fuel economy. The specifications for the powerplant will allow the Indonesian vehicle to meet domestic and export certification requirements.

Dr Habibie said he would boost the development of this national car now that the project had entered the second stage.

''We have finished the first phase of the design development by Badan Pengelola Industri Strategis (BPIS, Indonesia's agency for strategic industries) in cooperation with Millard Design Australia, an automotive engineering design company,'' he said.

''The activities in phase two (the detailed design engineering and testing) will be finished at the end of 1997. Some 30 unit prototypes will be ready next year,'' Dr Habibie said. ''A large part of these activities will involve technical expertise from Indonesia's strategic industries.''

Orbital Engine Corporation, www.orbeng.com, today confirmed it has been working with Indonesian government officials and the Maleo engineering team since mid 1995. Negotiations are at an advanced stage to establish a consortium between Orbital and its Indonesian partners to mass produce the engine for Maleo in Indonesia.

The 1.2 litre OCP engine, which was successfully launched into the Australian market earlier this year under the Genesis program, will be customised in conjunction with the Indonesian engineering team for the Maleo vehicle.

It is intended that the plant will supply the Maleo vehicle and other Indonesian engine requirements as well as export opportunities for engines and components from this high volume plant.

The Company said that the State Government of Western Australia played an important role in winning this mandate. Mr Hendy Cowan, the Deputy Premier of Western Australia, said the State Government welcomed the opportunity of adding the OCP powered Maleo vehicle, with its reduced pollution levels, to its vehicle fleet leasing list when approved for the Australian market.

The Genesis program was funded by R&D syndication and demonstrates the real value to Australia in commercialising locally developed, leading-edge technology.

Indonesian mobnas should learn how Korea produce their own car

2011-04-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting story below how Hyundai produce their own car in 1970's manage to become the biggest car producer in the world.

Indonesia's mobnas or national car should learn their story to see that Indonesia is very close to build a made in Indonesia's car. Please read:

In February 1976, Hyundai Motors, still a young Korean automaker, began sales of a new car, the Hyundai Pony.

Strictly speaking, this was not the first Korean car, but it surely was the first Korean car that enjoyed massive commercial success.

The Hyundai Pony launched the car boom inside Korea, and also became the first Korean car to appear in overseas markets.

The Korean car industry is surprisingly young, even though it is somewhat difficult to believe nowadays, when Korea plays a major role in the international automotive industry.

South Korea is the world's fifth-largest producer of motorcars, and in 2009 it produced 3.6 million vehicles, of which roughly two thirds (2.55 million, to be precise) were exported.

The first attempt to make cars locally took place in 1955 when a small Korean company began to assemble copies of the U.S. jeeps, largely using spare parts from de-commissioned military vehicles.

Their efforts attracted much attention and praise back in the 1950s, but the company managed to produce only a small number of vehicles: The market was too weak and the government remained indifferent.

In the 1960s, some Korean entrepreneurs tried to assemble Japanese and American cars, but again with limited success: Korea lacked capital and technology, and the domestic market was very small.

Things changed in the early 1970s when the South Korean government decided to promote the automotive industry as one of the key currency-earners for the country.

This looked like a bold and risky decision at the time: After all, until the early 1960s South Korea had no modern industry whatsoever, and by the early 1970s it was still largely known as a producer of cheap garments, toys and wigs.

By now we can see that this risky decision made perfect sense.

By the 1970s, major South Korean companies accumulated enough expertise to deal with the least demanding types of machine-building, and the military government firmly believed in the advantages of the industrial growth.

General Park Chung-hee, the increasingly authoritarian strongman, had a vision for future Korea, and this vision did not include bucolic villages with thatched roofs, but rather highways, steel mills and gigantic shipyards.

The military rulers did not opt for free competition in the emerging automotive industry and drew a list of companies that would be allowed (and, indeed, required) to mass produce cars.

The list was short, since it included only three companies: Hyundai, Kia and Daewoo. It remained almost unchanged for the next two decades.

To drive away foreign competition, the government introduced high protectionist tariffs that essentially closed the Korean market to outsiders.

It was understood that the first cars would be based on foreign designs, but as a condition of the government's support the producers were required to use an ever increasing amount of locally made spare parts.

The three chosen companies had only limited previous experience in car making.

Hyundai Motors was founded in 1967, and for a while produced some cars in cooperation with Ford and General Motors.

Kia, initially a producer of bicycles, had also experimented with motor vehicles. Nonetheless, the modern mass production industry had to be created from scratch.

In the mid-1970s, a number of locally made cars hit the market.

Kia rolled out its Brisa in early 1974, but it was the Hyundai Pony that came to be affectionately remembered as Korea's first mass-produced car.

Well, this was not completely Korean: Its 1.2L engine and transmissions came from Mitsubishi, while its design was developed by an Italian firm.

Nonetheless, it was produced in Korea, by Korean workers and technicians, and the percentage of the locally produced parts eventually reached an impressive 90 percent.

In 1982, Pony I was upgraded to Pony II, which remained in production until 1990. Pony also has the distinction of being the first Korean passenger car to be exported overseas. The exports began in 1976 when five vehicles were exported to Ecuador.

Eventually, these small cars went to many places in Latin America and the Near East, but soon Hyundai tried an established market; in 1984, the Pony went on sale in Canada.

This led to an unexpected success; for a while, the tiny car from what was still perceived a Third World nation became the top-selling car in Canada.

Indeed, the export played a major role in the growth of the Korean car industry; since the early 1990s between half and two thirds of all Korean cars have been sold overseas.

Nonetheless, the growth of the domestic demand was equally impressive.

In 1970, there were merely 130,000 cars in the nation. In 1985, soon after the debut of the Pony, the number reached the one million mark for the first time.

In 1995, there were eight million cars in Korea, and in 2010 the number of motor vehicles reached the 17 million mark. It seems that the saturation point has been reached: Korea has become a country of the automobile.

The process, which in developed countries took about a century, was complete here in three decades.

How to finance "Mobnas" project

2011-04-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

Indonesia is facing difficulties on how to finance "Mobnas" or national car project. Although the demand for Mobnas is extremely high, car producer seem to be fail to finance their project.

To overcome this problem we should understand the background of financing a project as follow.

Project finance is the long term financing of infrastructure and industrial projects based upon the projected cash flows of the project rather than the balance sheets of the project sponsors. Usually, a project financing structure involves a number of equity investors, known as sponsors, as well as a syndicate of banks that provide loans to the operation. The loans are most commonly non-recourse loans, which are secured by the project assets and paid entirely from project cash flow, rather than from the general assets or creditworthiness of the project sponsors, a decision in part supported by financial modeling. The financing is typically secured by all of the project assets, including the revenue-producing contracts. Project lenders are given a lien on all of these assets, and are able to assume control of a project if the project company has difficulties complying with the loan terms.

Generally, a special purpose entity is created for each project, thereby shielding other assets owned by a project sponsor from the detrimental effects of a project failure. As a special purpose entity, the project company has no assets other than the project. Capital contribution commitments by the owners of the project company are sometimes necessary to ensure that the project is financially sound. Project finance is often more complicated than alternative financing methods. Traditionally, project financing has been most commonly used in the mining, transportation, telecommunication and public utility industries. More recently, particularly in Europe, project financing principles have been applied to public infrastructure under public–private partnerships (PPP) or, in the UK, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) transactions.

Risk identification and allocation is a key component of project finance. A project may be subject to a number of technical, environmental, economic and political risks, particularly in developing countries and emerging markets. Financial institutions and project sponsors may conclude that the risks inherent in project development and operation are unacceptable (unfinanceable). To cope with these risks, project sponsors in these industries (such as power plants or railway lines) are generally completed by a number of specialist companies operating in a contractual network with each other that allocates risk in a way that allows financing to take place. "Several long-term contracts such as construction, supply, off-take and concession agreements, along with a variety of joint-ownership structures, are used to align incentives and deter opportunistic behaviour by any party involved in the project." The various patterns of implementation are sometimes referred to as "project delivery methods." The financing of these projects must also be distributed among multiple parties, so as to distribute the risk associated with the project while simultaneously ensuring profits for each party involved.

A riskier or more expensive project may require limited recourse financing secured by a surety from sponsors. A complex project finance structure may incorporate corporate finance, securitization, options, insurance provisions or other types of collateral enhancement to mitigate unallocated risk.

Project finance shares many characteristics with maritime finance and aircraft finance; however, the latter two are more specialized fields.

Basic scheme

Hypothetical project finance scheme

Acme Coal Co. imports coal. Energen Inc. supplies energy to consumers. The two companies agree to build a power plant to accomplish their respective goals. Typically, the first step would be to sign a memorandum of understanding to set out the intentions of the two parties. This would be followed by an agreement to form a joint venture.

Acme Coal and Energen form an SPC (Special Purpose Corporation) called Power Holdings Inc. and divide the shares between them according to their contributions. Acme Coal, being more established, contributes more capital and takes 70% of the shares. Energen is a smaller company and takes the remaining 30%. The new company has no assets.

Power Holdings then signs a construction contract with Acme Construction to build a power plant. Acme Construction is an affiliate of Acme Coal and the only company with the know-how to construct a power plant in accordance with Acme's delivery specification.

A power plant can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. To pay Acme Construction, Power Holdings receives financing from a development bank and a commercial bank. These banks provide a guarantee to Acme Construction's financier that the company can pay for the completion of construction. Payment for construction is generally paid as such: 10% up front, 10% midway through construction, 10% shortly before completion, and 70% upon transfer of title to Power Holdings, which becomes the owner of the power plant.

Acme Coal and Energen form Power Manage Inc., another SPC, to manage the facility. The ultimate purpose of the two SPCs (Power Holding and Power Manage) is primarily to protect Acme Coal and Energen. If a disaster happens at the plant, prospective plaintiffs cannot sue Acme Coal or Energen and target their assets because neither company owns or operates the plant.

A Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between Power Manage and Acme Coal supplies raw materials to the power plant. Electricity is then delivered to Energen using a wholesale delivery contract. The cashflow of both Acme Coal and Energen from this transaction will be used to repay the financiers.

Complicating factors

The above is a simple explanation which does not cover the mining, shipping, and delivery contracts involved in importing the coal (which in itself could be more complex than the financing scheme), nor the contracts for delivering the power to consumers. In developing countries, it is not unusual for one or more government entities to be the primary consumers of the project, undertaking the "last mile distribution" to the consuming population. The relevant purchase agreements between the government agencies and the project may contain clauses guaranteeing a minimum offtake and thereby guarantee a certain level of revenues. In other sectors including road transportation, the government may toll the roads and collect the revenues, while providing a guaranteed annual sum (along with clearly specified upside and downside conditions) to the project. This serves to minimise or eliminate the risks associated with traffic demand for the project investors and the lenders.

Minority owners of a project may wish to use "off-balance-sheet" financing, in which they disclose their participation in the project as an investment, and excludes the debt from financial statements by disclosing it as a footnote related to the investment. In the United States, this eligibility is determined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Many projects in developing countries must also be covered with war risk insurance, which covers acts of hostile attack, derelict mines and torpedoes, and civil unrest which are not generally included in "standard" insurance policies. Today, some altered policies that include terrorism are called Terrorism Insurance or Political Risk Insurance. In many cases, an outside insurer will issue a performance bond to guarantee timely completion of the project by the contractor.

Publicly-funded projects may also use additional financing methods such as tax increment financing or Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Such projects are often governed by a Capital Improvement Plan which adds certain auditing capabilities and restrictions to the process.

History

Limited recourse lending was used to finance maritime voyages in ancient Greece and Rome. Its use in infrastructure projects dates to the development of the Panama Canal, and was widespread in the US oil and gas industry during the early 20th century. However, project finance for high-risk infrastructure schemes originated with the development of the North Sea oil fields in the 1970s and 1980s. For such investments, newly created Special Purpose Corporations (SPCs) were created for each project, with multiple owners and complex schemes distributing insurance, loans, management, and project operations. Such projects were previously accomplished through utility or government bond issuances, or other traditional corporate finance structures.

Project financing in the developing world peaked around the time of the Asian financial crisis, but the subsequent downturn in industrializing countries was offset by growth in the OECD countries, causing worldwide project financing to peak around 2000. The need for project financing remains high throughout the world as more countries require increasing supplies of public utilities and infrastructure. In recent years, project finance schemes have become increasingly common in the Middle East, some incorporating Islamic finance.

The new project finance structures emerged primarily in response to the opportunity presented by long term power purchase contracts available from utilities and government entities. These long term revenue streams were required by rules implementing PURPA, the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. Originally envisioned as an energy initiative designed to encourage domestic renewable resources and conservation, the Act and the industry it created lead to further deregulation of electric generation and, significantly, international privatization following amendments to the Public Utilities Holding Company Act in 1994. The structure has evolved and forms the basis for energy and other projects throughout the world. so we should be aware while using these resorces

Mengapa produksi massal Mobnas menjadi lebih murah

2011-04-14T17:01:00.000-07:00

Teknologi produksi massal bisa membuat mobnas menjadi lebih murah. Untuk memahami hal itu, sebuah tulisan dibawah ini membantu kita untuk memahaminya.

Saya akan memberikan ilustrasi nyata agar pertanyaan pada judul diatas bisa terjawab dengan baik. Produk massal merupakan produk yang dihasilkan dari proses produksi yang berkesinambungan atau continue mulai dari bahan baku sampai pada proses packing. Dengan proses produksi yang continue ini, biaya produksi bisa ditekan karena kita tidak perlu mengganti setting mesin. Kalaupun ada perubahan setting mesin, biasanya bersifat berkala dan masuk dalam proses perawatan. Setting mesin produksi yang tidak sering mengalami perubahan, tentunya hasil kerja mesin tersebut akan sangat efisien.

Pada proses produksi produk massal berlaku sistem kali, waktu beberapa detik pun sangat berharga dan berefek sangat signifikan terhadap biaya proses produksi produk massal. Seandainya setiap proses tertentu terbuang waktu selama 1 detik, bila dikalikan dengan beberapa ribu produk yang dihasilkan maka hasilnya pun menjadi 1000 detik.

Faktor berikutnya yang membuat harga produk massal lebih murah dibandingkan dengan produk custom adalah dari sisi pembelian bahan baku, bahan penunjang, pelengkap dan lain-lain. Kita semua pasti mengetahui satu hal, pembelian dengan jumlah sedikit dengan pembelian jumlah besar atau partai akan menghasilkan perbedaan harga. Sebagai ilustrasi, bila kita ke pasar dan hendak membeli suatu barang tertentu dengan jumlah yang banyak, secara psikologis kita pasti menginginkan harga yang lebih rendah bila dibandingkan dengan pembelian satu buah saja. Ilustrasi ini juga berlaku di sektor bisnis manufaktur.

Ilustrasi lagi, semisal kita membeli bahan bila satu buah saja berharga Rp. 2.000,- jika kita membeli 100 buah harganya @ Rp. 1.750,-. Mungkin bagi sebagian orang dengan perbedaan hanya Rp. 250,- tidak terasa, namun hal ini tidak berlaku di bidang manufaktur atau produksi produk massal. Kembali lagi faktor kali menentukannya, bisa dibayangkan bila perbedaan harga yang hanya Rp. 250,- x 1000 buah = 250.000 dan angka ini bukan sesuatu yang kecil lagi.

Dari sinilah terlihat bagaimana sebuah barang masal bisa dihasilkan dengan harga yang lebih murah bila dibandingkan dengan barang hasil custom. Barang hasil custom justru berlaku kebalikannya, semua setting mesin tergantung dengan jenis produk yang akan diproduksi dan dipesan oleh pelanggan.

Namun perlu kita sadari, untuk menghasilkan suatu barang masal sangatlah tidak mudah. Karena bisnis seperti ini sangatlah padat modal, dalam artian benar-benar mengandalkan kekuatan keuangan. Hal inilah yang menyebabkan tidak semua orang mampu menghasilkan suatu produk masal dengan harga yang murah. Saya harapkan dengan adanya artikel ini bisa membuka wawasan kita semua bagaimana suatu produk bisa dihasilkan dengan harga yang ekonomis dan terjangkau.

How To Mass Produce "Mobnas" or Indonesia's National Car

2011-04-14T16:55:00.001-07:00

Indonesia is able to produce its nastional car. Even high school students had the capability to build prestigious car like "ESEMKA (SMK)" car.

But all things stopped when the car will be mass produced. Why?? Indonesia face difficulties how to mass produce their own brand car.

To understand how to mass produce "Mobnas" or Indonesia's national car, we can start by understanding the facts below.

Mass production (also called flow production, repetitive flow production, series production, or serial production) is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines. The concepts of mass production are applied to various kinds of products, from fluids and particulates handled in bulk (such as food, fuel, chemicals, and mined minerals) to discrete solid parts (such as fasteners) to assemblies of such parts (such as household appliances and automobiles).

The term mass production was defined in a 1926 article in the Encyclopedia Britannica supplement that was written based on correspondence with Ford Motor Co. The New York Times used the term in the title of an article that appeared before publication of the Britannica article. It was also referenced by Sir Chiozza Money, the Fabian banker, politician and author, writing in the London Observer in 1919, comparing the efficiency of Mass Production techniques as used in America, with British practice.

Overview

Mass production of assemblies typically uses electric-motor-powered moving tracks or conveyor belts to move partially complete products to workers, who perform simple repetitive tasks. It improves on earlier high-output, continuous-flow mass production made possible by the steam engine.

Mass production of fluid and particulate matter typically involves pipes with centrifugal pumps or screw conveyors (augers) to transfer raw materials or partially complete product between vessels. Fluid flow processes such as oil refining and bulk materials such as wood chips and pulp are automated using a system of process control which uses various instruments to measure variables such as temperature, pressure, volumetric throughput and level, providing feedback to a controller that holds a setpoint.

Bulk materials such as coal, ores, grains and wood chips are handled by belt, chain, pneumatic or screw conveyors, bucket elevators and mobile equipment such as front end loaders. Materials on pallets are handled with fork lifts. Also used for handling heavy items like reels of paper, steel or machinery are electric overhead cranes, sometimes called bridge cranes because they span large factory bays.

Mass production is capital intensive and energy intensive, as it uses a high proportion of machinery and energy in relation to workers. It is also usually automated to the highest extent possible. With fewer labour costs and a faster rate of production, capital and energy are increased while total expenditure per unit of product is decreased. However, the machinery that is needed to set up a mass production line (such as robots and machine presses) is so expensive that there must be some assurance that the product is to be successful to attain profits.

One of the descriptions of mass production is that "the skill is built into the tool", which means that the worker using the tool need not have the skill. For example, in the 19th or early 20th century, this could be expressed as "the craftsmanship is in the workbench itself" (not the training of the worker). Rather than having a skilled worker measure every dimension of each part of the product against the plans or the other parts as it is being formed, there were jigs ready at hand to ensure that the part was made to fit this set-up. It had already been checked that the finished part would be to specifications to fit all the other finished parts—and it would be made more quickly, with no time spent on finishing the parts to fit one another. Later, once computerized control came about (for example, CNC), jigs were obviated, but it remained true that the skill (or knowledge) was built into the tool (or process, or documentation) rather than residing in the worker's head. This is the specialized capital required for mass production; each workbench and set of tools (or each CNC cell, or each fractionating column) is different (fine-tuned to its task).

History

Prerequisites of mass production were interchangeable parts, machine tools and power, especially in the form of electricity.

Some of the organizational management concepts needed to create 20th-century mass production, such as scientific management, had been pioneered by other engineers (most of whom are not famous, but Frederick Winslow Taylor is one of the well-known ones), whose work would later be synthesized into fields such as industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, operations research, and management consultancy. Henry Ford downplayed the role of Taylorism in the development of mass production at his company. However, Ford management performed time studies and experiments to mechanize their factory processes, focusing on minimizing worker movements. The difference is that while Taylor focused on efficiency of the worker, Ford used machines, thoughtfully arranged, wherever possible to substitute for labor.

The United States Department of War sponsored the development of interchangeable parts for guns produced at the arsenals at Springfield, Massachusetts and Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) in the early decades of the 19th century, finally achieving reliable interchangeability by about 1850. This period coincided with the development of machine tools, with the armories designing and building many of their own. Some of the methods employed were a system of gauges for checking dimensions of the various parts and jigs and fixtures for guiding the machine tools and properly holding and aligning the work pieces. This system came to be known as armory practice or the American system of manufacturing, which spread throughout New England aided by skilled mechanics from the armories who were instrumental in transferring the technology to the sewing machines manufacturers and other industries such as machine tools, harvesting machines and bicycles. Singer Manufacturing Co., at one time the largest sewing machine manufacturer, did not achieve interchangeable parts until the late 1880s, around the same time Cyrus McCormick adopted modern manufacturing practices in making harvesting machines.

Mass production benefited from the development of materials such as inexpensive steel, high strength steel and plastics. Machining of metals was greatly enhanced with high speed steel and later very hard materials such as silicon carbide and tungsten carbide for cutting edges. Fabrication using steel components was aided by the development of electric welding and stamped steel parts, both which appeared in industry in about 1890. Plastics such as polyethylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be easily formed into shapes by extrusion, blow molding or injection molding, resulting in very low cost manufacture of consumer products, plastic piping, containers and parts.

Factory electrification

Electrification of factories began in the 1880s after the introduction of a practical DC motor by Frank J. Sprague and accelerated later after the AC motor was developed by Nikola Tesla (Westinghouse) and others. Electric motors were several times more efficient than small steam engines because central station generation were more efficient than small steam engines and because line shafts and belts had high friction losses.

Electrification enabled modern mass production, as with Thomas Edison’s iron ore processing plant (about 1893) that could process 20,000 tons of ore per day with two shifts of five men each. At that time it was still common to handle bulk materials with shovels, wheelbarrows and small narrow gauge rail cars, and for comparison, a canal digger in previous decades typically handled 5 tons per 12 hour day.

The biggest impact of early mass production was in manufacturing everyday items, such as at the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, which electrified its mason jar plant in Muncie, Indiana, USA around 1900. The new automated process used glass blowing machines to replace 210 craftsman glass blowers and helpers. A small electric truck was used to handle 150 dozen bottles at a time where previously a hand truck would carry 6 dozen. Electric mixers replaced men with shovels handling sand and other ingredients that were fed into the glass furnace. An electric overhead crane replaced 36 day laborers for moving heavy loads across the factory.

According to Henry Ford:

”The provision of a whole new system of electric generation emancipated industry from the leather belt and line shaft, for it eventually became possible to provide each tool with its own electric motor. This may seem only a detail of minor importance. In fact, modern industry could not be carried out with the belt and line shaft for a number of reasons. The motor enabled machinery to be arranged in the order of the work, and that alone has probably doubled the efficiency of industry, for it has cut out a tremendous amount of useless handling and hauling. The belt and line shaft were also tremendously wasteful – so wasteful indeed that no factory could be really large, for even the longest line shaft was small according to modern requirements. Also high speed tools were impossible under the old conditions – neither the pulleys nor the belts could stand modern speeds. Without high speed tools and the finer steels which they brought about, there could be nothing of what we call modern industry.”

Mass production was popularized in the 1910s and 1920s by Henry Ford's Ford Motor Company, which introduced electric motors to the then-well-known technique of chain or sequential production. Ford also bought or designed and built special purpose machine tools and fixtures such as multiple spindle drill presses that could drill every hole on one side of an engine block in one operation and a multiple head milling machine that could simultaneously machine 15 engine blocks held on a single fixture. All of these machine tools were arranged systematically in the production flow and some had special carriages for rolling heavy items into machining position. Production of the Ford Model T used 32,000 machine tools.

All processes in the factory were capable of capable of turning out high precision work within tolerances.

Ford's contribution to mass production was synthetic in nature, collating and improving upon existing methods of sequential production and applying electric power to them, resulting in extremely-high-throughput, continuous-flow mass production, making the Model T affordable and, as such, an instant success.

Although the Ford Motor Company brought mass production to new heights, it was a synthesizer and extrapolator of ideas rather than being the first creator of mass production. The following paragraphs touch on precursors from prior eras.

Before the 20th century

Ships had been mass-produced using prefabricated parts and assembly lines in Venice several hundred years earlier. The Venetian Arsenal apparently produced nearly one ship every day, in what was effectively the world's first factory which, at its height, employed 16,000 people. Mass production in the publishing industry has been commonplace since the Gutenberg Bible was published using a printing press in the mid-15th century.

In the Industrial Revolution simple mass production techniques were used at the Portsmouth Block Mills to make ships' pulley blocks for the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars. These were also used to make clocks and watches, and to make small arms. Though produced on a very small scale, Crimean War gunboat engines designed and assembled by John Penn of Greenwich are recorded as the first instance of the application of mass production techniques (though not necessarily the assembly-line method) to marine engineering. In filling an Admiralty order for 90 sets to his high-pressure and high-revolution horizontal trunk engine design, Penn produced them all in 90 days. He also used Whitworth Standard threads throughout.

While the preceding American system of manufacturing relied on steam power, mass production factories were electrified and used sophisticated machinery. Adoption of these techniques coincided with the birth of the Second Industrial Revolution in the USA and its emergence as the dominant industrial superpower in the 20th century. Countries that were quick to follow (e.g. Germany and Japan) achieved high rates of growth.

Use of assembly lines in mass production

Mass production systems for items made of numerous parts are usually organized into assembly lines. The assemblies pass by on a conveyor, or if they are heavy, hung from an overhead crane or monorail.

In a factory for a complex product, rather than one assembly line, there may be many auxiliary assembly lines feeding sub-assemblies (i.e. car engines or seats) to a backbone "main" assembly line. A diagram of a typical mass-production factory looks more like the skeleton of a fish than a single line.

Vertical integration

Vertical integration is a business practice that involves gaining complete control over a product's production, from raw materials to final assembly.

In the age of mass production, this caused shipping and trade problems in that shipping systems were unable to transport huge volumes of finished automobiles (in Henry Ford's case) without causing damage, and also government policies imposed trade barriers on finished units.

Ford built the Ford River Rouge Complex with the idea of making the company's own iron and steel in the same factory as parts and car assembly took place. River Rouge also generated its own electricity.

Upstream vertical integration, such as to raw materials, is away from leading technology toward mature, low return industries. Most companies chose to focus on their core business rather than vertical integration. This included buying parts from outside suppliers, who could often produce them as cheaply or cheaper.

Standard Oil, the major oil company in the 19th century, was vertically integrated partly because there was no demand for unrefined crude oil, but kerosene and some other products were in great demand. The other reason was that Standard Oil monopolized the oil industry. The major oil companies were, and many still are, vertically integrated, from production to refining and with their own retail stations, although some sold off their retail operations. Some oil companies also have chemical divisions.

Lumber and paper companies at one time owned most of their timber lands and sold some finished products such as corrugated boxes. The tendency has been to divest of timber lands to raise cash and to avoid property taxes.

Today the trend is toward platform companies, where the value added is in market analysis, engineering and product design. The platform company contracts production to outside suppliers, often in low wage countries.

Advantages and disadvantages

The economies of mass production come from several sources. The primary cause is a reduction of nonproductive effort of all types. In craft production, the craftsman must bustle about a shop, getting parts and assembling them. He must locate and use many tools many times for varying tasks. In mass production, each worker repeats one or a few related tasks that use the same tool to perform identical or near-identical operations on a stream of products. The exact tool and parts are always at hand, having been moved down the assembly line consecutively. The worker spends little or no time retrieving and/or preparing materials and tools, and so the time taken to manufacture a product using mass production is shorter than when using traditional methods.

The probability of human error and variation is also reduced, as tasks are predominantly carried out by machinery. A reduction in labour costs, as well as an increased rate of production, enables a company to produce a larger quantity of one product at a lower cost than using traditional, non-linear methods.

However, mass production is inflexible because it is difficult to alter a design or production process after a production line is implemented. Also, all products produced on one production line will be identical or very similar, and introducing variety to satisfy individual tastes is not easy. However, some variety can be achieved by applying different finishes and decorations at the end of the production line if necessary.

The Ford Model T produced tremendous affordable output but was not very good at responding to demand for variety, customization, or design changes. As a consequence Ford eventually lost market share to General Motors, who introduced annual model changes, more accessories and a choice of colors.

With each passing decade, engineers have found ways to increase the flexibility of mass production systems, driving down the lead times on new product development and allowing greater customization and variety of products.

Socioeconomic impacts

In the 1830s, French political thinker and historian Alexis de Tocqueville identified one of the key characteristics of America that would later make it so amenable to the development of mass production: the homogeneous consumer base. De Tocqueville wrote in his Democracy in America (1835) that "The absence in the United States of those vast accumulations of wealth which favor the expenditures of large sums on articles of mere luxury... impact to the productions of American industry a character distinct from that of other countries' industries. [Production is geared toward] articles suited to the wants of the whole people".

Mass production improved productivity, which was a contributing factor to economic growth and the decline in work week hours, alongside other factors such as transportation infrastructures (canals, railroads and highways) and agricultural mechanization. These factors caused the typical work week to decline from 70 hours in the early 19th century to 60 hours late in the century, then to 50 hours in the early 20th century and finally to 40 hours in the mid 1930's.

Overproduction was a result of mass production. Using a European crafts system into the late 19th century it was difficult to meet demand for products such as sewing machines and animal powered mechanical harvesters. By the late 1920s most goods were over supplied, which contributed to high unemployment during the Great Depression.

Mass production allowed the evolution of consumerism by lowering the unit cost of many goods.

Boneo: The Next National Car

2011-04-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

Another prototype of the national car appeared, this time made by PT Daya Utama Boneo. Below are the data and photos that I got from Asianusa Facebook Group. Boneo seemed to make 3 car.

Mini MPV and mini pickups, while the green cars are projected for the possibility of public transport. It uses 600 cc engine with 20,5 Horse Power, developed by ITM . Maybe some of you are not satisfied with the design of this car, engine capacity, supporting technology, and others. You can send suggestions and criticisms directly to the Asianusa on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=328098202540

PT Boneo Daya Utama is an automotive engineering and manufacturing in Jakarta - Indonesia. Their main business are developping the automotive technology, specially small car with diesel engine technology.

Company Name: PT Boneo Daya Utama
Company Address: Circuit Sentul, Bogor, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
City/Town: Bogor
Province/State: Jawa Barat
Country/Region: Indonesia
Zip/Postal Code: 16802

Indonesia's ITS ready to mass produce Sapu Angin 2 efficient car

2011-04-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

National car lineup will not only such as Komodo, Arina, GEA. Sapu Angin 2 efficient cars from Surabaya is also likely to be a national car. Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya will mass produce these efficient cars.

The plan was further strengthened after a second Sapu Angin efficient car engine capacity 110 cc 4 managed to become a champions of Urban Concept category in the race Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) Asia 2010, held at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia 8 to 10 July 2010.

This was disclosed by Chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering ITS Saso Herman to detikOto Tuesday (13/07/2010), when responding to the success of Sapu Angin 2 in Malaysia.

"This future car can be used by people. This is an efficient car. Sapu Angin was prepared to be efficient and robust. If there is no obstacle we are going to mass production, but may still be 20-30 years old again, because it still takes time to realize that, "he said.

Sapu Angin 2 car excels in the urban classroom concept of the car 15
top universities in Asia. Winds Sweep 2 claimed to use the basic ingredients of domestic production. Chassis Sapu Angin 2 uses strong aluminum materials. Winds Sweep machine called Paijo. On its mass production it no uses 110 cc, but larger.

PT Pos Indonesia use GEA car to boost profit

2011-04-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

PT Pos Indonesia officially use GEA national car to boost their delivery service.

In 2009, PT Pos had booked Rp80 billion in net profit. This year, the company is targeting a net profit jump of more than 100% to Rp170 billion. It biggest income still came from letter deliver services which in the first quarter it contributed Rp757 billion to the company's total income.

East and Central Java Govt To Buy Indonesia's ESEMKA National Car As An Official Cars For All Their Staff

2011-04-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

National cars produced in their own country should be first used by the government as their official car.

The statement disclosed by headmaster of SMK 1 Singosari School, East Java, Bagus Gunawan when contacted Okezone.

He hope that by using national car such as ESEMKA (SMK) car as an official vehicles of the institutions of government, then the costumers faith will be boosted with the quality of these cars which is made in their own country.

He said, this situation occurred in several countries "For example in Malaysia and Germany, the first domestically made cars used by his government," he continued.

He admitted that the government in East Java and Central Java has been declared ready to become the first customer when these cars will be mass produced.

Costumers are scrambled to buy Indonesia's GEA car

2011-04-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

The national GEA car produced by PT INKA that was launched in Jakarta’ INDODEFENCE 2010 last year, has been attracted huge demand by would be costumers. Unfortunately, at this time, the buyer can only purchase it from Cooperative institution.

"Yeah the demand is pretty good. People are very enthusiastic and wanted to buy the GEA," said Ridwan GEA team at an exhibition site to detikOto, Friday (01/10/2010).

Ridwan said, according to company policy, the car with passenger capacity 4 people, Engine Fuel Bio-fuel (Premium and LPG) is priced for less than Rp 50 million; it is not sold in retail, or individual.

"There are many people who wish to directly purchase it or would like to request a business card. But so far, the sales will be done through the cooperatives. Any distribution company which has their own cooperative body may apply with minimum purchase of 25 units," he said.

GEA is predicted to attract people to own the car which has 650 CC of engine, which is economical, agile and tough.

"Why did we choose the cooperative, because the supply of spare part is done via the particular cooperative body," he said.

GEA is a car micro car which engine system; intact type: front drive. Maximum power capacity: 20 kw/5300 rpm (650 CC). Front and rear suspension using per snails with shock absorbers.

The transmission of this national car is manual by the rate at 4 levels. Braking is by using the Disk Brake front, while rear brake drum.

Its dimensions, has a length 3210 mm, width 1430 mm, height 1705, 1984 mm wheelbase, front wheel tread distance of 1277 mm and rear wheel tread distance of 1267 mm. Passenger capacity of 4 -5 people and tank capacity of 30 liters, with a ratio of 1: 25.

Lomba Rancang Desain Mobil Nasional

2011-04-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

Mobil nasional Tawon siap berbenah. Nah bagi yang merasa tampilan Tawon kurang bagus, produsen mobil Tawon membuka kesempatan kepada masyarakat untuk ikut mendesain mobil mungil tersebut.

Direktur Pemasaran PT Super Gasindo Jaya, Dewa Yuniardi menjelaskan kalau saat ini mereka sedang mengadakan sebuah lomba membuat desain aksesoris mobnas Tawon agar tampak lebih manis dan trendi.

“Maksudnya desain aksesoris, tanpa merubah basic design (desain dasar) yang sudah ada. Penambahan itu biar Tawon kelihatan manis,” ungkapnya.

Lomba desain ini menurut Dewa dapat diikuti oleh masyarakat Indonesia tanpa dipungut biaya. Dengan batas akhir penerimaan desain pada tanggal 30 April 2011 jam 24.00 dan pemenangnya akan diumumkan pada 8 Mei 2011 mendatang.

“Ada 3 pemenang yang akan diambil. Ada hadiahnya,” tandasnya lagi.

Mobil nasional Tawon siap berbenah. Nah bagi yang merasa tampilan Tawon kurang bagus, produsen mobil Tawon membuka kesempatan kepada masyarakat untuk ikut mendesain mobil mungil tersebut.

Desain mobnas itu sendiri menurut Dewa haruslah orisinal dengan memperhatikan sisi estetika dan fungsionalitas. Gambar Tawon hasil desain lalu dibuat dalam format JPG dan PNG dengan tampilan tampak depan, samping, belakang dan keseluruhan serta dikirim melalui emaill ke mobiltawon@gmail.com.

“Kalau bagus nanti bisa kita terapkan untuk mobil contoh,” pungkasnya.

Iran unveils 3rd solar car

2011-04-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

Iran has unveiled Iranian Gazelle 2, the country's third solar vehicle completely designed and developed by Iranian scientists and experts.

"The vehicle weighs 150kg, which is 100kg lighter than its predecessor Gazelle 1,” project manager Dr. Karen Abrinia said during the unveiling ceremony held at Tehran University on Sunday.

Iranian Gazelle 1 and Iranian Gazelle 2 were designed and produced in 2004.
Head of Iran's Fuel Management Committee Mohammad Rouyanian, managing director of Iran's Fuel Optimization Organization Abbas Kazemi and Tehran University Chancellor Farhad Rahbar participated at the ceremony.

"The Brushless DC engine used in this car gives it a 97 percent efficiency, which means that the vehicle wastes the minimum amount of energy," Fars News Agency quoted Abrinia as saying.

"Road tests showed that Gazelle 2 can reach the speed of 120km/h, but we believe that it can be increased to 150km/h," he added.

The veteran mechanics expert also said that the solar cells used in the car have 22 percent efficiency enabling Gazelle 2 to travel a distance of 600km at the speed of 80 km/h if the weather is sunny.

Iranian university students also unveiled a solar car earlier this month which they claim can travel at more than 130 kilometers per hour.

Designed and made by the students of the vehicular research department at the University of Qazvin, the car is named 'Havin' meaning 'shining sun'.

Havin is five meters long and two meters wide and is another example of attempts made by Iranian scientists to reduce energy consumption by producing more environment-friendly devices in all sectors.

Iranian Gazelle 2 is due to compete in the 2011 World Solar Challenge competition in Australia this October, according to Rahbar.

The competition challenges over a hundred of the world's best Technical Universities and Colleges to design and build a car capable of crossing Australia on the power of the sun.

The Challenge, which begins on October 16, crosses the center of Australia - stretching 3,000 kilometers from Darwin to Adelaide.

Perajin Onderdil Otomotif Purbalingga Ikut Bangun Anoa dan ATPM Mobil Asing

2011-04-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Setelah mendapat kepercayaan dari sejumlah ATPM (Agen Tunggal Pemegang Merek) mobil terkenal seperti Mercedes Benz, Suzuki, Daihatsu, dan Toyota, knalpot produksi perajin Purbalingga (Jateng) ternyata juga digunakan pada kendaraan tempur jenis panser dan tank.

''PT Pindad yang secara rutin memesan knalpot Purbalingga, tak hanya menggunakannya untuk panser bagi TNI-AD. Tapi juga untuk panser yang dibuat guna memenuhi pesanan dari Malaysia dan Lebanon,'' kata seorang perajin knalpot Purbalingga, Muhajirin, Jumat (1/4).

Dia menyebutkan, pesanan knalpot untuk kendaraan tempur TNI-AD, sebenarnya sudah dilakukan PT Pindad sejak tahun 2009/2010. Pada saat itu, jumlah permintaan memang tidak banyak, rata-rata 150 buah knalpot per tahun. Sedikitnya pesanan knalpot tersebut, karena pesanan pembuatan tank oleh TNI kepada PT Pindad juga masih sedikit.

Namun pada tahun 2011 ini, PT Pindad juga mendapat pesanan pembuatan panser dari Malaysia dan Lebanon. Berdasarkan informasi yang diperoleh Muhajirin dari PT Pindad, panser yang dipesan adalah kendaraan tempur Panser Anoa 6 kali 6. ''Untuk kebutuhan pembuatan panser tersebut, kami juga mendapat permintaan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan knalpotnya,'' katanya.

Saat ini, Muhajirin mengaku telah mengirimkan 11 unit knalpot untuk panser Anoa pesanan Lebanon, dan 32 unit knalpot untuk Panser pesanan dari Malaysia. Knalpot yang dipesan, ermasuk bagian mufler (kendang knalpot) dan exhause (pipa pengeluaran)-nya.

Menurutnya, Panser Anoa 6 X 6 adalah sejenis kendaraan tempur pengangkut personil atau APC (Armoured personal carrier) dengan sistem penggerak 6 roda simetris.

Sebelumnya, Muhajirin mengaku telah secara rutin memasok mufler knalpot untuk jenis kendaraan panser mortir, panser recovery, dan panser Anoa-2. Semua pasokan atas permintaan PT Pindad.

''Hingga saat ini, kami telah mengirimkan 300 unit knalpot untuk kendaraan tank dan panser yang digarap PT Pindad. Dalam waktu dekat, kami juga tengah diminta memasok lagi knalpot untuk tank-tank model baru yang akan dibuat untuk memperkuat kendaraan TNI,'' katanya.

Dipilihnya knalpot produksi perajin Purbalingga, antara lain karena karena kualitasnya cukup baik dan mampu meredam suara.

Etox Electric Sports Car Heralds From Turkey

2011-03-31T08:39:00.000-07:00

Etox, Turkey’s first sports car, is set to have an electric version in the coming months according to the manufacturer’s interview with Anadolu Agency this week. Ercan Malkoc, owner of Erteks Auto Decoration, says the car has an economical advantage in addition to being an environmentally friendly version of the original, stating that the Etox’s battery can be charged for $10 dollars and drive for nearly 155 miles.

The original, non-electric version of the car was released in 2007, and boosts a top speed of 115 mph using a 4-cylinder system. The electric prototype’s specifications have yet to be released, and will probably stay that way until the car is completed over the next three months. Provided the Turkish government can lend necessary assistance, the auto-maker claims large-scale production of the electric Etox could start within one year of the prototype’s debut.

Turkey unveils new electric car mabe by Os Car

2011-03-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

Oscar, Turkish electric car manufacturing company unveils new design of its electric car. See the detail here..

AsiaNusa siap protes bila Mobnas lokal mendapat perlakuan diskriminasi oleh pemerintah

2011-03-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

Rencana pemerintah Indonesia mengeluarkan regulasi tentang produk low cost and green car menuai kritik pedas dari asosiasi produsen mobil nasional yang tergabung dalam Asosiasi Industri Automotif Nusantara (AsiaNusa). Mereka mendesak pemerintah supaya tak terlalu memihak investor asing dan menyingkirkan kesempatan industri mobil nasional untuk bersaing.

Dewa Yuniardi, Ketua Bidang Marketing dan Komunikasi AsiaNusa kepada Kompas.com menjelaskan, produsen mobil nasional pernah meminta insentif oleh pemerintah agar mendapat keringanan dalam memproduksi micro car (mobil bermesin 1.000 cc ke bawah), tapi tak terlalu digubris. Meski demikian, mereka tak patah arang dan tetap berjalan dengan segala keterbatasan.

"Kami akhirnya memutuskan supaya jalan terus, dengan catatan tak dibeda-bedakan. Maksudnya, kalau kami tak diberi insentif mereka (produsen mobil besar) juga jangan," tegas Dewa saat dijumpai di JIExpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta Pusat, Rabu (23/3/2011).

Terkait rencana penerbitan regulasi low cost & green car, Dewa bersama anggota AsiaNusa mengaku siap protes keras kepada pemerintah jika tak berlaku adil. Saat ini AsiaNusa terdiri dari beberapa produsen mobil nasional antara lain, Tawon, Wakaba, Fin (Komodo), Arina, Gea, dan ITM. "Kalau mereka bisa dapat insentif, kami tidak, ini tidak adil. Kalau mau fair, kita adu saja di pasar, kami berani bersaing kalau sama-sama tak dapat insentif," beber Dewa.

Menganggapi hal ini, Budi Darmadi, Direktur Jenderal Industri Unggulan Berbasis Teknologi Tinggi Kementerian Perindustrian mengatakan, pemerintah dalam mengeluarkan kebijakan tak pernah memihak ke satu pihak dan sifatnya pasti umum. Pada regulasi low cost & green car yang tengah digodok, semua pihak bisa memanfaatkannya asal mengikuti aturan mainnya.

"Setiap peraturan yang dikeluarkan pemerintah itu sifatnya global dan setiap produsen otomotif itu punya segmen yang dituju," jelas Budi.

China Produksi Mobil Murah Seharga 13 Juta Rupiah

2011-03-21T00:17:00.000-07:00

Pabrikan mobil asal China, Geely siap membuat mobil murah sejagat dan menyebar ancaman untuk pesaingnya. Mobil anyar mereka Intelligent Geely (IG) yang sebelumnya tampil di ajang otomotif bergengsi Beijing Auto Show siap diproduksi pada 2012 dan dipasarkan 2013 mendatang.

Mobil ini begitu memikat, apalagi target harga mobil ini juga sangat murah yakni hanya sebesar 10.000 RMB atau sekitar Rp 13 jutaan saja. Bila dilihat dari harganya, IG hampir sama dengan harga sebuah motor di Indonesia.

Dan ternyata PT Geely Mobil Indonesia (GMI) pun tidak menutup kemungkinan akan mendatangkan mobil ini ke Indonesia.

"IG siap dipasarkan 2013 nanti dengan harga 10.000 yuan. Bisa saja kita masukan juga kesini," ujar Presiden Direktur PT Geely Mobil Indonesia (GMI) A Budi Pramono kepada detikOto.

Bila niatan GMI ini benar terlaksana, IG tentu menjadi pilihan menarik bagi mereka yang ingin beralih dari motor ke mobil. Sebab selain harganya tidak jauh beda dengan motor, mobil ini pun akan mematahkan predikat mobil termurah sejagat yang selama ini dipegang oleh Tata Nano yang saat ini sudah naik harga menjadi antara US$ 2.800-3.800 (Rp 26-35,2 juta).

Pemerintah Janjikan Mobil Murah Rp 50 Juta untuk Nelayan

2011-03-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Fadel Muhammad berjanji akan menyediakan rumah murah bagi para nelayan di 100 lokasi di berbagai daerah di Indonesia. Bahkan Fadel juga menyediakan transportasi berupa mobil khusus buatan Indonesia asli dengan harga murah.

"Jadi sesuai instruksi presiden kita mempunyai beberapa program klaster terkait kesejahteraan nelayan," ujar Fadel ketika ditemui di Kantornya Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur, Jakarta, Senin (21/3/2011).

Fadel memaparkan, program kesejahteraan bagi nelayan yakni dengan memperbaiki rumah nelayan miskin dan menyediakan rumah murah.

"Kita kelompokkan tahun ini di 100 lokasi, ini bekerjasama dengan Kemenpera dan akan kita perbaiki serta sediakan perumahan bagi mereka nelayan miskin," tambahnya.

Tidak hanya itu, Fadel mengungkapkan pihaknya juga menyediakan transportasi, yaitu kendaraan untuk mengangkut hasil tangkapan. Kendaraan berupa mobil ini bekerjasama dengan PT Industri Kereta Api (INKA).

"Harganya berkisar Rp 50 juta," tuturnya.

Lebih jauh Fadel mengatakan, pihaknya juga memberikan bimbingan dan pelayanan bagi nelayan yang akan mengembangkan usaha baru seperti rumput laut dan ikan kerapu.

"Serta, tahun ini kita juga berikan banyak beasiswa ke anak-anak nelayan yang dalam waktu dekat akan diberikan secara simbolis oleh presiden," tukasnya.

Kreatif: Mobil Tua Ahmadinejad Laku Rp 22 Miliar Untuk Perumahan Orang Miskin

2011-03-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

Mobil tua milik Presiden Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad laku US$ 2,5 juta atau setara dengan Rp 22 miliar dalam sebuah lelang. Rencananya, hasil lelang mobil Peugeot seri 504 keluaran tahun 1977 itu akan disumbangkan untuk proyek perumahan.

Identitas pembeli tidak diketahui, hanya saja menurut pengacaranya Mamoud Asari, ia berniat membangun sebuah museum dan memamerkan mobil itu.

Mobil itu merupakan kendaraan yang digunakan Ahmadinejad semasa ia masih menjadi walikota di Teheran. Semenjak terpilih menjadi presiden pada 2005, mobil itu jarang digunakan lagi.

Diperkirakan harga di pasaran lokal, mobil berwarna putih itu hanya Rp 17,1 juta saja.

Ahmadinejad sudah mengumumkan rencana pelelangan mobilnya sejak November tahun lalu. "Untuk membantu perumahan Mehr, sebagai sumbangan," katanya saat itu seperti yang dikutip harian The Telegraph.

Ahmadinejad merupakan presiden yang ingin dicitrakan sebagai teman bagi orang miskin. Usai pemilihan umum dua tahun lalu, ia berjanji akan membangun perumahan, reformasi tenaga kerja dan ekonomi sebagai prioritas setelah harga perumahan melambung pada periode pertamanya.

Majukan Mobnas, Indonesia Perlu Revolusi Kepada Dominasi Mobil Jepang dan Korea

2011-02-24T02:42:00.000-08:00

Ketua Umum Gabungan Industri Kendaraan Bermotor Indonesia (Gaikindo), Sudirman MR menyatakan, produsen otomotif membutuhkan dana setidaknya sekitar USS 50 juta untuk memproduksi mobil nasional yang harganya murah, seperti yang diwacanakan pemerintah.

"Dana itu hanya untuk membeli robot perakit dan mesin pengelas, dan pengecatan, belum sampai pada tahap produksi massal," ujarnya di Jakarta, akhir pekan lalu.

Dia mengungkap, akibat besarnya investasi, membuat produsen memilih sikap menunggu kebijakan pemerintah. Alasannya, kalangan produsen khawatir investasi akan menguap jika produsen terjun langsung tanpa ada kejelasan peraturan dari pemerintan. "Kalau peraturan feasible baru kita bicara produksi massal. Apa yang dapat diberi oleh pemerintah kami belum tahu," jelasnya.

Sudirman mengaku, definisi mobil murah dan ramah lingkungan ("low cost and green car") yang tengah digodok pemerintah belum jelas. Dia meminta, pemerintah mengajak Gaikindo berdiskusi dalam merusmuskan peraturan mobil murah.

Dalam kesempatan itu, Sudirman juga mengungkap. Gaikindo memangkas target ekspor mobil dalam bentuk utuh (completely built up/CBU) dari 100 ribu unit menjadi sekitar 65 ribu unit tahun ini, menyusul rendahnya realisasi ekspor sampai Agustus. "Saya rasa agak berat untuk capai 100 ribu. Tadi teman-teman sudah bicara ekspor di angka 65 ribuan unit," imbuh dia.

Berdasarkan data Gaikindo, ekspor mobil CBU sampai Agustus n.-iik 60.1% menjadi 49.427 unit, dibanding periode sama tahun lalu 30.858 unit.

Dia menerangkan, perekonomian negara tujuan ekspor belum sepenuhnya pulih dari tekanankrisis finansial global 2009. Ini membuat pabrikan mobil lokal sulit menggenjot ekspor.

Walau begitu, tutur Sudirman, kinerja ekspor mulai bangkit memasuki paruh kedua tahun ini. Buktinya, pada Agustus lalu ekspor mobil meroket 122,6 persen menjadi 7.279 unit dibandingkan Agustus 2009 yang hanya 3.269 unit.

Adapun mobil yang diekspor terurai atau completely knocked down (CKD)sepanjang Januari-Agustus 2010 mencapai 38.238 unit dan ekspor komponen otomotif mencapai 237.756 unit

Senada dengan Sudirman, Chief External Affairs PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN), produsen Toyota di Indonesia, Irwan Priyantoko menyatakan, ekspor mobil mulai meningkat memasuki semester II. Ini terlihat dari lonjakan order dari beberapa wilayah seperti Timur Tengah dan Asean.

"Apalagi pada bulan lalu kami mendapat tambahan order Fortuner sebanyak 1.000 unit ke beberapa negara Timur Tengah, sehingga ekspor otomatis terdongkrak," kata Irwan.

Irwan memprediksi tren peningkatan ekspor akan terus berlanjut hingga akhir tahun. Manajemen TMMIN menargetkan total ekspor pada 2010 dapat mencapai 41.400 unit dari total produksi TMMIN 108 ribu unit.

Beberapa mobil rakitan lokal yang diekspor dalam bentuk utuh antara lain Suzuki APV, Toyota Kijang Innova, dan Daihatsu Gran Max, Toyota Avanza, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Rush; Suzuki APV, Suzuki Swift; dan Honda Freed. Ekspor mobil mengarah ke beberapa negara, seperti Malaysia, Thailand, Jepang, Mesir, Yaman, Uni Emirat Arab, Kuwait, Mesir, Oman, Arab Saudi, dan Afrika Selatan.

Target DAIHATSU

Di sisi lain, Sudirman yang juga menjabat wakilpresiden direktur PT Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM), produsen mobil Daihatsu dan Toyota menerangkan, ADM menargetkan produksi tahun ini dapat menembus 280 ribu unit, naik 21,4% dibanding 2009 sekitar 220 ribu unit. "Produksi naik selaras dengan bergairahnya pasar mobil domestik," ujarnya.

Sudirman menuturkan, produksi sempat menyentuh angka 19.810 unit, teredah sepanjang tahun ini. ADM memproduksi 6.584 unit Daihatsu untuk domestik dan 590 unit untuk ekspor. Selain itu, produksi merek Toyota di pabrik ADM mencapai 9.740 unit dan Toyota untuk ekspor 2.266 unit.

Menurut Dia, rendahnya produksi pada bulan lalu tak lepas dari pendeknya hari kerja akibat libur Lebaran. Kondisi ini membuat produksi tidak dapat digenjot, sehingga pengiriman mobil ke dealer berkurang. "Konsumen juga sedang konsentrasi untuk Lebaran, sehingga pasar mobil lesu. Tapi, produksi pada Oktober akan balik ke angka 20 ribu unit," jelas dia.

Hingga September 2010, produksi ADM mencapai 211.814 unit. Alokasi merek Daihatsu untuk pasar domestik mencapai 75.507 unit dan ekspor 4.995 unit. Sedangkan produksi Toyota mencapai 109.204 unit untuk pasar domestikdan 22.108 unit untuk ekspor.

ADM memproduksi Toyota Avanza, Toyota Rush, Daihatsu Xenia, Daihatsu Terios, dan Daihatsu Gran Max. Pabrik ADM di Sunter, Jakarta Utara, memiliki kapasitas terpasang 211 ribu unit, terbesar di Tanah Air.

Sudirman menyatakan, ADM akan meningkatkan kapasitas pabrik menjadi 286 ribu unit mulai semester 11-2010. Saat ini proses ekspansi sudah mencapai 70%. "Ekspansi kemungkinan akan rampung pada Februari tahun depan, lebih cepat dibanding proyeksi semula, yaitu Maret," tegas dia.

Perang Jepang terhadap Indonesia: Jepang Cengkram Industri Mobil Indonesia

2011-02-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Sudah menjadi rahasia umum kalau pasar mobil di Indonesia di dominasi oleh produsen mobil asal negeri matahari terbit. Jepang bahkan menguasai 95 persen dari seluruh populasi mobil yang ada di tanah air.

Hal itu diungkapkan oleh Direktur Pemasaran dan Layanan Purna Jual PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM), Jonfis Fandy di Pasific Place, Jakarta, Rabu (23/2/2011).

"95 persen penjualan mobil di indonesia dari Jepang," ungkapnya.

Jonfis lalu menjelaskan kalau di Indonesia sekarang ada sekitar 300-an model mobil yang beredar. Dari jumlah tersebut, Jepang jelas mendominasi dan mencengkram pasar.

Lebih lanjut Jonfis juga menjabarkan kalau dari 300-an model mobil yang beredar di Indonesia itu, hanya 11 model yang sudah mampu berdiri tegak dengan angka penjualan di atas 1.000 unit perbulan.

"Hanya 11 model dari 300-an model yang beredar yang bisa menjual diatas 1.000 unit. Bisa dibilang hanya mereka yang aman kalau dilihat dari skala ekonominya. Dari 11 model, Honda menyumbang 3 model, Jazz, Freed dan CR-V," jelasnya.

Banyak model yang beredar di Indonesia menurut Jonfis adalah buah dari mudahnya birokrasi untuk mendatangkan mobil ke Indonesia khususnya mobil impor.

"Sekarang tidak ada kewajiban untuk produksi mobil di sini, jadi lebih mudah impor. 1-2 mobil saja bisa diimpor," tukasnya.

Sebagai informasi, Indonesia di tahun 2010 lalu berhasil mencatatkan penjualan mobil total sebesar 764.710 unit. Angka ini jauh di atas target Gaikindo yang berada di kisaran 730.000 unit dan juga merupakan rekor baru bagi Indonesia.

Dan di tahun 2011 ini, bila tidak ada aral melintang, kemungkinan angka 800 ribu unit sangat mungkin akan tercapai.

Saudi, Isuzu plan $133m car factory

2011-02-15T10:01:00.000-08:00

Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with Japan's Isuzu Motors to set up a car and truck manufacturing factory, costing around 500 million riyals ($133 million), state news agency SPA said.

Production will begin in the fourth quarter of 2012 with initial output of 600 trucks, the project manager was quoted as saying in the statement. The plant will be located in Dammam.

"Expansion in the project will raise production to 25,000 trucks annually by 2017. The company will work to export 40 percent of production to international markets," Qusay Al-Abdul Kareem said.

Saudi Arabia imports around 600,000 cars annually, SPA said.

Top Opec producer Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy, is heavily dependent on oil and is trying to diversify its revenue to other sources.

In December, King Saud University in Riyadh signed a memorandum of understanding with a South Korean car manufacturing firm to set up a new company with a capital of about $500 million.

A prototype of an economy model car designed for local use will be ready within two years and may later be exported to Gulf and North African countries, the university's president said at the time.

The biggest car producing site in the middle east - Iran - SAIPA Kashan

2011-01-31T07:17:00.000-08:00

Inauguration of the biggest car producing site in the middle east - Iran - Kashan

Another intelligent electric vehicle made in Iran

2011-01-31T07:01:00.000-08:00

See the video...

Penjualan mobil nasional sumbang Rp79,50 Triliun untuk negara

2011-01-25T00:23:00.000-08:00

Penjualan mobil baru di Indonesia pada 2010 yang mencapai 764.710 unit dan menjadi rekor tertinggi, telah memberi pendapatan bagi negara sebesar Rp79,50 triliun. Dari jumlah tersebut, terbesar disumbang dari Pajak Penjualan Barang Mewah dan Pajak Penghasilan Rp63,54 triliun, selebihnya Rp15,96 triliun dari Pajak Bea balik Nama (BBN) dan Pajak Kendaraan bermotor.

Jongki D Sugiarto, Ketua I Gaikindo mengatakan, sudah saatnya pemerintah memandang lebih serius industri otomotif Indonesia karena sumbangsihnya yang besar. Seluruh pemasukan yang diperoleh dari pajak harusnya diimbangi dengan pertumbuhan infrastruktur yang selaras.

"Masalah macet di Jakarta jangan industri otomotif terus dikambing hitamkan. Nanti kalau penjualan sudah dibatasi, ujung-ujungnya produksi terganggu dan akhirnya PHK (pemutusan hubungan kerja) dilakukan. Ini yang kita hindari," ujar Jongkie di Jakarta hari ini (25/1/2011).

Jongkie menambahkan, di Jakarta saja Otomotif menyumbangkan Rp7 triliun atau 65 persen dari total pendapatan asli daerah pemerintah provinsi. "Tapi, yang ada, otomotif malah terus ditekan dengan berbagai kebijakan kontra produktif," beber Jongkie.

Bahrain students design black box for cars

2011-01-22T00:29:00.000-08:00

A Black box for cars - containing basic information about its motion, function and features - similar to those found in airplanes, has been invented by two Bahraini students.

Bahrain University College of Infor-mation Tech-nology students Fatima Al Ansari and Latifa Jamal came up with the device aimed at providing vital information to crash investigators.

However, the equipment also has a built-in GPS system. 'We depended on our practical experience and created a special programme to design the device, which is a first in the country,' said Jamal.

'Over time, we plan to perfect it and add more features,' she added.-

Qatar to create millions job to its citizens by setting up car plant in the country

2011-01-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

A newly launched automotive investment firm in Qatar has announced plans to set up an automotive cluster in the Gulf state by 2020, the Peninsula has reported.

The new company, Qatar Automotive Gateway (Qatar Ag), expects its automotive cluster has chosen a number of automotive sub-segments to develop including the design and manufacture of Lithium Ion batteries and components and automotive aluminium components - die castings, forgings, and extrusions.

Qatar Automotive Gateway (Qatar Ag), a newly launched automotive investment company, targets the establishment of an automotive cluster in Qatar by 2020, officials said during the company’s launch yesterday.

“Qatar Ag’s objective is to establish a fully operational automotive cluster by 2020, while leveraging Qatar’s resources and financial and operational synergies across Qatar projects,” said Ghanim bin Saad Al Saad, Chairman, Qatar Ag.

The automotive cluster is expected to generate thousands of technical and management jobs in Qatar, thus supporting the knowledge based economic vision of Qatar which will deliver high returns for future generations, according to Ahmed M Sorour, Chief Executive Office, Qatar Ag.

Al Saad said Qatar is an ideal and competitive location for the industry with its fast growing infrastructure, low energy costs, financial investments and attractive business environment and that Qatar Ag has started executing its strategy having already chosen a number of automotive sub-segments to develop.

“One of the opportunity areas is in the design and manufacture of Lithium Ion batteries and components. As the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles ramps up, and xEVs become a standard product offering, it is expected to create a new value chain worth approximately $250bn by 2020, of which more than $65bn will be for Lithium Ion batteries and components, grow from today’s demand at a dramatic 65 percent growth rate,” explained Sorour.

Another area is automotive Aluminium components – die castings, forgings, and extrusions –where the global market is expected to grow significantly from $38bn in 2010 to $73bn by 2020.

Due to the increasing use of Aluminium components experts see a significant shortage of global capacity by 2016, creating an opportunity for Qatar Ag to produce hi-quality automotive aluminium components while leveraging Qatalum’s significant aluminium capacity and capabilities.

“We took the initiative to start Qatar Ag after two years of research and analysis, during which we sought inputs from executives from the global auto industry, industrial companies in Qatar, and global financial, industry, and technical experts. We confirmed that the auto industry offers multiple industrial investment opportunities, including the manufacture of components in Qatar,” said Al Saad.

The vast opportunities in the automotive industry is being driven by its dramatic shift and restructuring globally such as on the technical side where hybrid and electric vehicles are now being adopted for their fuel efficiency and environment friendliness opening up a huge market for vehicle components such as Lithium-Ion batteries.

Iran to create million jobs to its citizens by mass production of powertrains locally

2011-01-20T04:13:00.000-08:00

Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) has taken a step closer to total self-sufficiency in its vehicle production after acquiring the technology to produce its own powertrains. The company has acquired cylinder block and cylinder head machining equipment, which will enable it to produce powertrains for 680,000 vehicles by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 2010). In the next full year, IKCO aims to supply 800,000 powertrains.

The new equipment will also enable IKCO to diversify its powertrains. According to IKCO's Powertrains deputy CEO, Ali Sheikhzadeh, the carmaker is now in a position to move into supplying diesel engines for passenger cars, which will enter mass production in 2011. He added that the new equipment will 'put an end to Iran's dependency on foreign companies'.

IKCO has a partnership with French company PSA Peugeot Citroën , through which it assembles vehicles under licence. It also based its Saman 'national car' on the Peugeot 405 platform. However, as the threat of further international sanctions against Iran loom, the carmaker is seeking to reduce its dependence on other companies, particularly from overseas, for vital parts and components.

GEC: First UAE made car in production

2010-12-30T18:21:00.000-08:00

For the first time a 150-horsepower, double cabin pick-up, produced in the UAE, has been launched in the market by Gulf Automobile Industry Corp priced between Dh36, 000 and Dh60, 000, reported Gulf News. The automobile has about 40 per cent local component, sourced from GCC and Arab countries and is being manufactured in a factory in Abu Dhabi.

Mobil Balap Listrik dan Modifikator Nasional

2010-12-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

Mobil Aballs menjadi pemenang dalam kontes modifikasi, Autoblackthrough 2010. Dapur pacu mobil ini dikembangkan oleh LIPI, sementara seluruh tubuh Aballs dibuat secara custom oleh rumah modifikasi Signal.

Iran unveils mass production lines of tactical vehicle, mortar system

2010-12-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

Iran unveiled mass production lines of 3.4 tone tactical vehicle dubbed "Kaviran" and 120mm mortar system of "Razm" as the country is marking the 4th day of its Holy Defense Week on Saturday.

"Kaviran can be used in uneven paths and it increases operational power of armed forces in ground battles," Iranian Defense Minister, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said in the unveiling ceremony of the defense projects.

The vehicle can pass across river with 70 centimeter depth and is able to work as troop carrier, ambulance, 107mm rocket-launcher and 120mm mortar carrier, he added.

Vahidi continued, "120mm mortar which is of long-range class has already been produced with the range of 6200 meter, but the range is increased to 16 kilometers (the range is doubled) with efforts of Iranian Defense Ministry experts."

The system is very powerful and agile and can be placed on Kaviran tactical vehicle, he noted.

Iran's IKCO Plans for a Low-cost Car

2010-12-06T09:35:00.000-08:00

Javad Najmeddin, IKCO CEO in this regard said, "In order to gain more domestic and international market share and meet customers' demands, IKCO is going to design and present eight new products within the next five years.

Najmeddin then pointed out that two of these eight new cars would be designed and manufactured on totally new platforms, one of which would belong to A or B segment and would cost 8000 to 10000 dollars.

"The Design and production of an eight thousand dollar passenger car that meets all modern standards is a difficult and complicated process," IKCO CEO said and added, "when we talk of a low-cost car, we still consider a quality car that observes all required standards."

Paykan was one of IKCO's most popular sedans that was phased out in 2006.

Made in Palestine: Cars Work on Compressed Air

2010-12-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Imagine that your car could run on compressed air instead of gas; that is exactly what Immad Hasuna, a Palestinian mechanic has done.

Hasuna, age 26, owns a small car repair shop in the central West Bank city of Ramallah, descendant from a 1948 refugee family; he is a simple mechanic that did not go to school to learn his trade.

The idea started two years ago, Hassina says, as he was cleaning a truck engine using compressed air, the car moved few meters due the air purser in the engine. This made him think about how an air purser could be used to move the truck faster and for long distance.

Later, Hasuna experimented with his idea by hooking an air compressor in a truck and use the air purser to make the car engine run, the experiment worked and the first engine working on air was born.

The new engine is safe, it does not explode in accidents, and does not heat up, in fact because of the compressed air the engine cools with more distance the car drives, Hasuna explains. In addition this engine will be cheaper to operate.

Regarding the environment, since the engine does not operate with gas there are no ignition fumes and the car does not generate CO2, making Hasuna's engine 100% environmentally friendly.

The Palestinian Authority granted Hasuna a patent on his engine, he won the first prize at the Made In Palestine Contest. In addition, the Palestinian Prime Mister Salam Fayyad donated a government car for Hasuna to do experiments on.

Hasuna says that he is looking for funding to continue working on his engine, he hopes that this engine will be available for consumers soon.

The first fully made in Palestine car unveiled

2010-12-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

'Mary Seeds' is the first electric car of Palestinian unveiled in its final form in the contest and exhibition Made in Palestine, 2010, which runs from 23-25 November 2010 in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Actually this is the third electric car made in Palestine, but will be the first made in Ramallah. Palestinian scientist in Gaza has developed the first Palestinian electric car in Gaza. see here. and also in Hebron

Gaza also developing the first racing car on their own ability. See here.

Iran hybrid car ranks third in 2010 EHI

2010-10-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

A hybrid car designed and made by Iranian students has ranked third in the 2010 Formula Electric and Hybrid Italy (EHI) held in the city of Turin.

Hakhamanesh H.V., made by Iran's Sharif University students, took part in the event's class 2H categories and stood third after mecc-H2 and PicoFarad Racing Team by Italy's Polytechnic University of Milan and Turin respectively.

Iran's four-wheel automobile has a composite body, weights 600 kilograms and can travel up to 90 kilometers an hour, ISNA reported.

The vehicle's eight batteries can be charged by urban electricity; it is almost noiseless and does not pollute.

EHI is an international competitive and sports event found by the Assiciazione Tecnica Dell'Automobile in 2005 in an effort to promote innovative activities in academic institutions across the world, which can improve the energy efficiency of vehicles supplied by different energy sources.

International teams from universities and technical institutions take part with vehicles completely designed and made by them. Their products are tested for endurance, acceleration, energy consumption, autocross and climbing abilities.

The teams are then evaluated and awarded by the Technical Committee, based on the characteristics and performance of their vehicles, their level of innovation and industrial potentials.

The 2010 edition of the Formula Electric and Hybrid Italy (EHI) was held from October 7 to 10.

Rendahnya nasionalisme dan patriotisme ATPM merusak kemandirian industri otomotif Indonesia

2010-07-31T03:29:00.001-07:00

Banyak hujatan yang dilontarkan kepada Indonesia akan ketergantungan yang luar biasa kepada asing dalam industri otomotif.

Beberapa menyalahkan sikap korupsi, mental kuli, dan sikap tidak kreatif Indonesia. Namun sebenarnya yang paling bertanggung jawab dalam kemandegan tersebut adalah ATPM.

Di India dan China, ATPM sangat berperan penting dalam motor penggerak pengembangan industri motor setempat. ATPM juga menjadi sarana alih teknologi yang sangat mumpuni.

Hanya saja di Indonesia, ATPM malaha kepanjangan tangan brand asing, hal ini diakibatkan karena asing juga menjadi pemilik mayoritas saham dalam ATPM tersebut.

Alih-alih menjadi penegah dalam alih teknologi, ATPM malah digunakan oleh asing untuk memonopoli pasar otomotif, mendikte kebijakan pemerintah dan mengaruk semua potensi bisnis turunan industri otomotif.

Pada zaman dimana era nasionalisme dan kebanggaan tehadap negara sudah bukan sesuatu yang tabu, asing dan ATPM seharusnya mengubah diri dari perilaku neo-kolonialisme seperti ini. Imperialisme ekonomi ini akan membuat konsumen menjadi objek dan bukan subjek dari pengembangan pasar. Usaha-usaha untuk melepaskan diri dari cengkeraman asing ini akan terus diddengungkan dan brand asing akan menjadi musuh dalam selimut.

Sebenarnya kalau asing misalnya toyota, ingin mengembangkan sayap, mereka harus ikut serta dalam pengembangan kemandirian industri otomotif nasional yang murni, bukan seperti kijang, sehingga penghormatan dan penghargaan kepada asing atau toyota akan semakin mempribumi.

Pengembangan Sepeda Motor Listrik Nasional

2010-07-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

Dalam menghadapi tantangan kebutuhan energi yang semakin tinggi di satu pihak, maka sudah menjadi keterharusan di pihak pengguna energi untuk melakukan upaya signifikan dalam penghematan energi dan upaya nyata pengurangan emisi karbon, sebagaimana yang di sampaikan oleh Presiden SBY pada pertemuan “United Nations Climate Change Conference” yang dikenal sebagai Pertemuan Copenhagen 2009 dimana para pemimpin dunia sepakat untuk mengurangi produksi gas emisi pada tahun 2030 mendatang. Indonesia termasuk salah satu negara yang berjanji akan mengurangi jumlah gas emisi sebanyak 26 persen pada tahun 2030 mendatang.

Inovasi teknologi energi baru dan terbarukan yang diaplikasikan pada sektor transportasi sudah menjadi kewajiban para ilmuwan, peneliti dan para rekayasa untuk mengembangkan inovasi teknologi alat-alat transportasi yang ramah lingkungan, hemat energi serta murah dan awet pemeliharaan. Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi berupaya mendukung dan mendorong teknologi inovasi kerjasama ABG (Academician, Business dan Government) yang telah dilakukan oleh Pusat Penelitian Tenaga Listrik dan Mekatronika LIPI Bandung dengan PT Betrix Indonesia dalam mengembangkan proyek sepeda motor listrik tanpa BBM dan infrastruktur stasiun "electric re-fuelling system” pertama karya anak bangsa.

Prototype sepeda motor listrik tanpa BBM tersebut diberi merk "ABYOR" yang berarti cemerlang dengan kinerja jarak tempuh 200 km per pengisian baterei (recharging), kecepatan maksimum 40 km/jam, akselerasi 0-35 km/jam dalam 10 detik. Acara uji-coba telah dilakukan oleh tim gabungan dari Biro Litbang Polri, Dit Samapta, Ditlantas Mabes Polri di Lapangan Brigif 15 Kujang II Cimahi Jawa-Barat, yang dibuka oleh Hari Purwanto Asisten Deputi Program Unggulan dan Strategis Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi serta dihadiri Kepala Pusat Inovasi LIPI, Bambang Subiyanto, Kepala Pusat Penelitian Tenaga Listrik dan Mekatronika LIPI, Adi Santoso, serta pejabat teras PLN serta berbagai pihak ABG lainnya yang lalu.

Dalam kesempatan yang sama, Hari Purwanto meninjau dan mencoba kendaraan minibus roda empat yang bermesin full listrik hasil kerjasama pengembangan LIPI dan DIKTI, serta eksperimen pemanfaatan hidrogen generator hasil pengembangan LIPI dan PLN pada kendaraan roda empat lainnya.

Untuk kedepan, kebijakan riset dan teknologi diarahkan guna menggalang upaya nyata kerjasama konsorsium R&D yang dapat meningkatkan produktifitas R&D yang didukung berbagai pihak seperti kemampuan disain lokal serta meningkatkan kandungan lokal, sehingga diharapkan dapat mempercepat pertumbuhan kapasitas inovasi teknologi transportasi yang "ramah lingkungan", terjangkau dan murah dapat semakin terwujud, guna melakukan upaya nyata seperti apa yang telah disampaikan oleh Presiden SBY pada pertemuan Copenhagen tahun 2009. (ADPRUS/ humasristek)

Bank Mandiri Kucurkan Dana Rp. 200 Milyar Untuk Pembiayaan Mobil

2010-07-04T02:46:00.000-07:00

PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (BMRI) telah menyalurkan kredit kepada anak usahanya, PT Mandiri Tunas Finance (MTF) sebesar Rp 200 miliar sebagai fasilitas pembiayaan mobil bekas.

Menurut Senior Vice President Business Banking I Bank Mandiri Tatang Tabroni, penyaluran pembiayaan ini diharapkan dapat mendorong peningkatan bisnis showroom penjualan kendaraan bermotor. Khususnya di kawasan Pusat Mobil Kemayoran (PMK).

"Pembiayaan senilai total Rp 200 miliar kepada showroom penjualan mobil bekas yang menjadi mitra MTF di kawasan PMK. Bank Mandiri terus menyalurkan pembiayaan di kawasan lain di masa yang akan datang," jelasnya dalam keterangan tertulis yang diterima detikFinance di Jakarta, Minggu (4/7/2010).

Tatang menambahkan, pangsa pasar mobil bekas tercatat mengalami pertumbuhan, akibat pengaruh naiknya volume penjualan mobil baru dan juga pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional yang semakin membaik.

"Peningkatan penjualan (mobil bekas) juga karena adanya rencana pemberlakuan pajak progresif dan Pajak Penjualan atas Barang Mewah (PPNBM) yang tinggi untuk mobil baru sehingga dapat mendorong masyarakat beralih membeli mobil bekas," ucap Tatang.

Sinergi ini dipercaya dapat meningkatkan kemampuan MTF untuk berkompetisi dan meningkatkan performa bisnis. Sampai saat ini Tunas Finance memiliki jaringan 32 kantor cabang di 20 kota di Indonesia.

Penyaluran kredit kepada showroom mobil bekas rekanan MTF sepanjang tahun 2009, sebanyak 842 showroom dengan 237 showroom diantaranya berlokasi di Jakarta. Di kawasan Pusat Mobil Kemayoran sendiri terdapat sekitar 165 showroom dengan 115 showroom diantaranya telah menjadi rekanan MTF. Sampai akhir Mei 2010 nilai penjualan mobil bekas yang mendapatkan pembiayaan dari MTF mencapai Rp 500 miliar.

First flying car wins permit in US

2010-07-03T04:35:00.000-07:00

A light aircraft that can convert into an automobile has been allowed into US skies to help a long dreamed-of "flying car" come true.

Whether it is to avoid a traffic jam or just get to a destination faster, the idea of combining a car and plane or having a flying gear has always been appealing.

A private aircraft manufacturing company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, has blended the two modes of transport quite well in its roadable Terrafugia Transition.

According to Terrafugia Inc., the vehicle can fly a distance of up to 640 kilometers (around 398 mile) on a single tank of gas at a cruising speed of 185 km/h. Upon landing and with its wings folded up, it can also drive highway speeds on the road.

It is also permitted to take off a maximum weight of about 650 kilograms, which is 50 kilograms above the limit for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) light sport aircraft category.

Terrafugia won a key federal approval for its flying car which has already completed flight tests to become the latest manifestation of a long-running fantasy.

The significant innovation now fills a blank in humans' life which existed almost as long as there have been automobiles.

The company will begin production later this year with about 20 vehicles.

Terrafugia said it has collected $10,000 deposits from more than 70 potential buyers for the $194,000 craft with the first flying car expected off the production line in 18 months.

18 year old Tunisian designer gives shape to new BMW X 9 concept

2010-07-02T02:23:00.000-07:00

It looks more like a ‘batmobile’ than a standard BMW, yet the drawings of the new BMW X 9 concept which have recently been released on the internet, will certainly launch its 18 year old Tunisian designer, Oussama Khalfi and the car, on top of the world.

So far, little has been revealed about the car’s technical details.

More

Morocco: Automotive industry experiences strong growth

2010-07-02T02:21:00.000-07:00

The Moroccan automotive industry experienced strong growth over the last decade, with regard to several indicators :
· A dynamic market for new cars which, in view of its evolution over the last decade, witnessed substantial growth. The annual sales volume reached 120000 cars, which portends a bright future in favor of the industrialization of the sector.

· The redeployment of Renault in Morocco through the acquisition of State shares in SOMACA and the implementation of an industrial complex in Tangier with a production capacity of 400 000 vehicles per year, 90% of which to be oriented to exportation.

The overflow of business opportunities and partnership incoming from:
- Original Equipment Manufacturers interested in the competitiveness of Morocco, reinforced by the government's offer to investors.
- Prime contractors wishing to develop their purchases in Morocco.
These are tangible data that challenge the professionals on the promising development of the Moroccan automotive industry, as shown by the figures below:

Today, stakeholders at different levels must act to ensure that this sector’s dynamism is not undermined by the automotive crisis in the world. This dynamism should be perpetuated in a way to enable Morocco to establish a ''chain'', and meet the requirements of global markets.

Analysis of operators:
The main players in the Moroccan automotive sector are the following:
· Assembly lines: referring to SOMACA which assembles vehicles like Dacia, Renault, Peugeot and Citroen. The annual production volume will reach 100 000 vehicles in 2012 for both local market and export. Moreover, the Moroccan government and Renault signed in 2007, an agreement to set up an assembly line to produce 400 000 vehicles per year, eventually for exportation. It is a large-scale project likely to push forwards the automotive industry in Morocco.
· Equipment Manufacturers: This category constitutes the core sector in which it distinguishes:

- Foreign capital companies : 46%
- Moroccan capital companies : 38 %
- Mixed capital companies : 16%

· Spare parts distributors and automobile reparation:
This sector comprises:
- Hundreds of importers/distributers.
- Over a thousand retailers
- Over 4000 mechanics and repairers.
- Two reparation trademarks MIDDAS and SPEEDY

The rapid evolution on the national park is a lever for the development of these activities.

Half-owned by Bahrain, the supercar offshoot of Formula One giant McLaren is gearing up for the launch of a spectacular new model

2010-06-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

IN MARCH, when Formula One world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button unveiled the supercar (picture above) which the McLaren Group hopes will see them take their motoring success off of the circuit and on to the road it was hailed as a display of the best of British.

But the McLaren MP4-12C, the high-performance road car that the new McLaren Automotive marque will begin to produce in 2011, has been put together with strong support from within the Gulf.

Riding to Paradise: Iran

2010-06-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, when we decided to travel as much as we can on our bikes, we needed a pespective. We decided to travel, starting from near to more distant places. Namely, first Istanbul and Marmara regions and then making larger circles each time, evenually meeting the country borders and beyond. A non ending project. But we would always know our direction.

It is our map to decide where to go next. We planned a trip to our neighbours on the east, namely Georgia, Azerbeijan, Armenia and Iran. It turned out to be too complicated due to many border crossings. Besides we would cross Iran from the north of the country only, but there was much more to see there. So we decided to make this an Iran ride only.

Sinad Khodro: Another Made in Iran's Car

2010-06-28T05:13:00.000-07:00

This car is one of the best Iranian built cars (that's right, Iran does build cars) on the market there. It comes in two body styles: hatchback and coupe. Only a couple of years ago, the only cars seen on Iranian roads were the ancient and unrefined Paykans.

Rivers of these rebaged Hillman Hunters (remember those old 70's cars?) flowed through the country. Now, things are starting to improve with the new Samand on sale and the Sinad. The Samand is a car that was built with the help of French corporations. It is much better than the Paykan, but it can't compete with American autos. There are other cars sold in Iran too, like Renaults and Nissans. For more info, go to www.irkhodro.com or www.kishkhodro-sinad.com.

Pemda Jateng dan Jatim Akan Gunakan Mobil Esemka, Siapa menyusul??

2010-06-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

Ini merupakan tindakan yang perlu dicontoh. Tidak hanya berbicara mengenai pengembangan mobil nasional, tapi juga memberikan kontribusi konkret terhadap usaha pengembangannya.

Seperti yang dilakukan Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Tengah dan Jawa Timur. Rencananya kedua pemda tersebut akan menggunakan mobil buatan anak-anak SMK tersebut.

"Ya, sepertinya mereka tertarik, karena masing-masing sudah memesan sebanyak 100 unit mobil Esemka," ujar konsultan Departemen Pendidikan Nasional Ari Setiawan, ketika dikunjungi detikOto, di pameran Indonesian Manufacturing, di JI Expo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Rabu, (2/12/2009).

Rencananya Esemka yang diminati Pemda ini adalah Esemka Digdaya. Sebelumnya Digdaya juga sudah diminati oleh kalangan di China.

Meskipun belum tahu akan digunakan untuk apa, namun Ari berharap, pemesanan tersebut dilakukan karena kedua instansi pemerintah tersebut tertarik untuk menjadikan mobil Esemka sebagai unit operasional mereka.

"Itu salah satu tindakan konkret mereka, jadi tidak hanya asal bicara saja," tambahnya.

Sehingga saat ini, Ari hanya tinggal memikirkan bagaimana caranya memenuhi permintaan total 200 unit tersebut, dengan memacu para anak-anak SMK untuk semakin kreatif dan produktif. Kapan Pemerintah Pusat menyusul?

Saudi: ‘4th International Luxury Motor Show’ set to take off as market demand soars

2010-06-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

Saudia Private Aviation (SPA), an affiliate of Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the main sponsor of the upcoming 4th edition of the International Luxury Motor Show (EXCS), which will be held at Jeddah Hilton hotel in October 2010.

The sponsorship contract was signed between Saudia Private Aviation and Specialized Systems for Exhibitions and Conventions, the organizer of the International Luxury Motor Show for the fourth year in a row.

On this occasion, Wajdi El Idrissi, assistant general manager for Royal and VIPs Affairs, underscored the importance of the specialized exhibition which targets prominent people and the high class segment of the community, the segment that SPA targets through its marketing programs.

After signing the contract, El Idrissi said: “Saudia Private Aviation services was launched after carrying out thorough market studies which showed constant rising demand for private aviation. We do believe that sponsoring of the International Luxury Motor Show is an important step toward launching our services in view of its privileged reputation and great success achieved in its last sessions.”

He added: “In order to further enhance our services, we added a number of world’s most sophisticated private jets such as Hawker 400XP and Falcon 7X, which has a non-stop flying range of about 11 hours.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-Shemasi, CEO of the organizing company, expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabian Airlines in general, and for SPA in particular, for their participation in the 4th edition of the International Luxury Motor show as the main sponsor. He said: “Participation of Saudi Arabian Airlines in this show is an important motivation for the development of such specialized and distinguished exhibition. We are very proud of this sponsorship, which definitely will have a positive impact for the success of the show, as well as raising the number of its visitors.”

“We, as a company dedicated to excellence, shall continue in the organization of this show, which has enjoyed a great success since its first session. Now, with SPA participation, we are sure that the show will make a qualitative leap,” he added.
He stressed the importance of national companies in sponsoring national events such as the International Luxury Motor Show

Motor konsep Kanzen Sasori

2010-06-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Produk konsep yang disajiakan disampaing menawarkan banyak inovasi seperti skubek sport, juga motor yang sangat Indonesia banget semisal Kanzen Hybrid yang mengaplikasi dual penggunaan BBM dari LPG dan Bensin lalu ada Kanzen MPM (Multipurpose Motorcycle) atau motor serbaguna yang dapat membantu dalam ladang pertanian dan perkebunan.

Sports car made in UAE set for launch

2010-06-15T23:35:00.000-07:00

Rather, the man stepping out of the dark Batmobile-styled sportscar is Nadeem Dweik, international sales manager of Capital Manufacturing, a Dubai-based automaker.

A smile breaks out on his face as he glances at the racing lines of the newest Made-in-the-UAE sports car dubbed the Capman Roadster.

"This isn't a kit car," says Dweik. "Our new cars are much more sophisticated. The big difference is that we manufacture everything in this car except for the chassis and drivetrain.

"We're the only company in Dubai to get a manufacturing licence to build cars. We're the only ones manufacturing cars in the UAE as far as we know." The fibreglass body, interior and virtually every other piece in the car is handmade.

Dweik is gearing up for this weekend's official launch of the muscle roadster's latest model at Capital Manufacturing's head office and small manufacturing plant on Umm Suqeim Road this weekend where new dealers of the UAE automobile will visit from GCC countries to get acquainted.

The company has big plans for the growling road beast based upon the world-famous Cobra design of yesteryear.

"We're expecting a lot of customers to come in to see the car. Some of our customers feel very patriotic and want to support a new nationally built product," Dweik said, adding there is a fierce passion among UAE residents for sports cars with classic looks.

"A lot of people in the UAE already have a passion for the sport and own a Ferrari or a Porsche. But they want something else, they want something special, unique that no one else has," Dweik said.

Rich looks

Part of the business strategy to build and manufacture a UAE-built car is keeping it affordable.

Despite its exceedingly rich looks, the price for a basic model starts at Dh185,000 and can rise to Dh295,000.

"We're making it affordable not just to penetrate the market but also to gain trust in new customers."

Compared to upscale sports cars costing upwards of millions of dirhams, the new muscle roadster is "not a lot of money for a car that has your own signature", he said.

By providing a full package of amenities in a relatively inexpensive but custom-built sports car, Dweik believes the market will welcome the new Capman Roadster in the year ahead.

By mid-2011, Capital Manufacturing says it hopes to sell 40 of the new Capman Roadster in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait through licensed dealers across the GCC.

As more cars sell and the business broadens, Dweik said he expects the firm to open a mini manufacturing plant in Dubai capable of mass production on a small scale at first.

"For now, we're building our cars one at a time but in future we're planning on building a mini plant that will see production increase," he said.

For now, it takes about 12 employees to build a single car, taking it through all stages of production.

Specs

The new Capman Roadster is a car that promises to deliver on performance with a 5.0-litre Mustang engine producing 215 horsepower.

Weight: 1,100kg

Wheelbase: 2286mm

Overall length: 4013mm

Overall height: 1219mm

Overall width: 1790mm

Ground clearance: 115mm

Fuel capacity: 60 litres

Would you prefer to buy a car manufactured in your own country? Or would you rely on a well known brand? Should the UAE set up its own car manufacturing plant?

Terkait "Silent War" Jepang terhadap Industri Otomotof Pribumi: Ternyata Indonesia Pasar motor Terbesar di Asia

2010-06-08T03:19:00.000-07:00

Indonesia merupakan pasar motor terbesar di Asia, namun negeri ini belum mempunyai produksi motornya sendiri, sehingga banyak produsen motor dari negara lainnya seperti China, Jepang, dan Italia melemparkan produksinya ke Indonesia.

Potensi pasar yang besar itu mendorong TVS Group melalui TVS Motor Company Indonesia pada tahun 2005 melakukan investasi sebesar 50 juta dolar AS ke pasar domestik dengan mendirikan pabrik pertama di Karawang, kata Chief Operating Officer PT TVS Motor Company Indonesia (TMCI), Darmady Tjuatja saat peluncuran produksi baru TVS Neo X3i di Jakarta, Senin.

Menurut Darmadi Tjuatja, banyaknya motor dari negara lain masuk ke Indonesia menunjukkan bahwa Indonesia adalah pasar yang potensial dalam industri tersebut.
Namun India melalui TVS Group mempunyai pandangan yang berbeda dengan produsen lainnya, langsung melakukan investasi dan mendirikan pabrik di Karawang dengan produksi sebesar 300 ribu per tahun, katanya.

Ia mengatakan, pasar Indonesia dengan India sebenarnya sama, karena keduanya memiliki penduduk yang jumlah cukup besar, namun India mempunyai produksi motor sendiri seperti Bajay dan TVS Neo, sedangkan Indonesia masih belum ada produknya.

Begitu pula dengan China sudah memproduksi motor China dan mempunyai pasar sendiri, dan melepas produknya juga ke pasar Asia lainnya seperti di Indonesia, namun belum melakukan investasi di Indonesia dalam sektor tersebut.

Namun India dengan komitmen yang kuat melakukan investasi di Indonesia yang akan dijadikan sebagai pusat produksi motor TVS Indonesia untuk kawasan Asia Tenggara, tuturnya.

Ditanya kenapa masih memproduksi motor bebek, menurut dia, karena pasar masih cukup besar yang mencapai 38 persen, sedangkan TVS merupakan “anak bawang” yang baru muncul dalam tiga ini.

“Kami harapkan dapat meraih pangsa pasar di dalam negeri antara delapan persen sampai 10 persen,” katanya.

TVS Indonesia, lanjut dia juga berminat memproduksi jenis motor bukan bebek, namun saat ini masih fokus ke sektor tersebut.

Karena itu , TVS juga berharap akan dapat memproduksi satu juta unit motor dalam beberapa tahun ke depan, sehingga menjadi pemain utama dalam bisnis tersebut, katanya.

Alasan Esemka Incar Para Guru dan Kepsek

2010-05-18T03:51:00.000-07:00

Mobnas Esemka mengincar guru dan Kepala Sekolah sebagai target awal pembelinya, hal ini ditujukan agar menjadi panutan guna semakin memacu motivasi para siswa-siswinya untuk terus berkarya di bidang otomotif.

Karenanya, konsentrasi pemasaran awal akan dipusatkan pada guru dan kepala sekolah, sebagaimana diutarakan Direktur Pembinaan SMK Kementerian Pendidikan Nasional Joko Sutrisno.

Ia memaparkan, segmentasi pasar bertujuan agar anak-anak SMK bisa semakin bersemangat dalam berkarya, karena melihat tokoh-tokoh panutan mereka mengakui dan membeli produk yang telah mereka ciptakan.

"Kalau guru dan kepala sekolahnya saja membeli, mereka (SMK) kan pasti bersemangat, karenanya kita coba fokus di situ dulu," ujarnya ketika berbincang dengan detikOto, Selasa (18/5/2010).

Sejauh ini, ada sekitar 7.000 SMK yang ada di Indonesia, kalau saja kepala sekolah dan gurunya membeli hasil karya muridnya ini, Esemka tentu akan maju.

Kedua mobil ini sendiri dirakit dan dikembangkan oleh lima SMK, yakni SMK 2 Solo, SMK 5 Solo, SMK Muhammadiyah Borobudur dan SMK 1 Singosari dengan mengusung tiga pilihan mesin bensin dan 1 mesin diesel.

Untuk mesin bensin, Esemka akan tersedia dalam kapasitas 1.8 liter, 2.000 cc dan 2.200 cc, sedangkan untuk diesel Esemka akan tersedia dengan mesin 2.500 cc.

ITB Luncurkan Kendaraan Hemat Energi

2010-04-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) meluncurkan kendaraan hemat energi hasil karya mahasiswanya yang akan diikutsertakan dalam Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia, Juli 2010 di Sepang, Malaysia.

Uji coba tiga kendaraan hemat energi itu dilakukan di seputar Campus Center ITB, Jalan Gaseha Bandung, Senin.

Ketiga kendaraan itu dirancang dan dibangun oleh tiga mahasiswa ITB untuk menjawab tantangan kompetensi yakni menempuh jarak yang ditentukan dengan konsumsi bahan bakar mininal.

Tiga kendaraan itu diberi nama Cikal, Rajawali dan Heave-Exia. Dua dari ketiganya, yakni Heave-Exia dan Rajawali akan berlaga pada kategori Futuristic Protoype, sementara Cikal akan berlaga di kategori Urban Concept SEM Asia 2010 di Sepang, Malaysia.

Team Leader Tim Cikal, Teuku Naraski Zahari, mengatakan, mobil yang dirancangny adalah konsep mobil hemat bahan bakar, aerodinamis dan ringan dengan rangka utama dari alumunium dan bodi dari carbonfober.

"Kami membuat sebuah kendaraan dengan desain bergaya modern, sesuai dengan kehidupan perkotaan saat ini yang serba praktis tapi tetap detail, katanya.

Mobil karyanya ini memiliki panjang 2,5 meter, lebar 1,2 meter dan tinggi 1,2 meter serta menggunakan bahan bakar jenis bensin beroktan 95 (gasoline 95).

Menurutnya, jika mobil rancanganya itu keluar menjadi jawara di SEM Asia 2010, bukan tidak mungkin akan diproduksi massal.

"Kalau ada yang mau modalin, kenapa ngak di produksi sevara massal. Insya Allah niat itu ada kok," ujar Teuku Naraski, nmahasiswa jurusan Teknik Elekto ITB angkatan 2006.

Sementara itu, Tim Heave-Exia merancang kendaraan Futuristic Prototype dengan konsep kendaraan prototip 3 roda dengan satu penumpang.

Tim Leader Tim Heave-Exia, Elingselastri, mengatakan, kendaraan rancangannya itu didesain secara aerodinamis dan menggunakan struktur ringan serta berbahan bensin dengan oktan 95 (gasoline 95).

"Untuk mesinnya sendiri kita menggunakan mesin Kanzen 80 cc yang kita modifikasi dengan dimensi panjangnya 3 meter, lebar 0,8 meter dan tinggi 0,8 meter," ujar Elingselastri.

Sedangkan Tim Rajawali membuat kendaraan dengan menggunakan mesin 35 cc dan berbahan bakar bensin dengan oktan 95.

Tim Leader Tim Rajawali, Ananta Bagas R, mengatakan, bentuk kendaraan yang ia rancang terinspirasi dari bentuk tetesan air yang aerodinamis.

"Dimensinya memiliki panjang 2,7 meter, lebar 0,75 meter dan tinggi 0,75 meter dan struktur body kendaraanya full carbon fibre serta menggunakan satu transmisi gigi," kata Ananta.

Nuri Incar Anak-anak Kampus Nasionalis

2010-04-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

Mobil nasional garapan PT Super Gasindo Jaya, Nuri, yang saat ini sedang dalam tahap pengembangan, nantinya akan dipasarkan pada masyarakat umum. Pabrikan nasional ini bakal menjadikan anak-anak kampus yang mengaku nasionalis sebagai pangsa pasarnya.

Hal tersebut diutarakan langsung CEO Super Gasindo Jaya, Kuntjoro Njoto. Ia mengatakan, segmen menengah akan menjadi incaran pemasaran Nuri kedepannya.

"Kelas menengah, khususnya para mahasiswa-mahasiswa yang peduli dengan produk dalam negeri menjadi pangsa pasar kita, mobil ini cocok untuk mereka," ujarnya ketika berbincang dengan detikOto, Senin (19/4/2010)

Selain dimensinya yang kecil, kapasitas mesin yang diperbesar bakal menjadi daya tarik tersendiri bagi para mahasiswa yang ingin tampil ekonomis dan efisien, namun tetap mengedepankan fungsi, sehingga Nuri dinilai cocok untuk mendukung aktifitas mereka.

Karenanya, sampai saat ini, Nuri terus dikembangkan terutama mengenai urusan safety dan kenyamanannya nanti, sehingga ketika mulai dipamerkan bulan Juli mendatang, sudah dalam keadaan yang siap untuk dipasarkan kepada konsumen umum.

Jadi Taksi: Dukung produksi massal mobnas pemerintah bisa tiru jepang dan Inggris

2010-04-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

Taksi dibeberapa negara sudah diwajibkan untuk ikut serta dalam komitmen pelestarian lingkungan. Karenanya sejumlah perusahaan taksi dunia sudah menggunakan mobil bertenaga listrik.

Bila beberapa waktu lalu sempat muncul taksi yang menggunakan Mitsubishi i-MiEV di Jepang, kini Inggris pun mulai menerapkan hal serupa. Hanya saja bukan mobil listrik Mitsubishi tersebut yang digunakan, melainkan Mercedes-Bez Vito bermesin elektrik.

Hebatnya, program sosialisasi penggunaan taksi elektrik ini dibiayai oleh Goverment Advantage Niche Vehicle Research & Development Programme, di London, Inggris.

"Kami ingin di London taksi sudah menggunakan mobil listrik pada 2012 mendatang," ungkap Sales and Marketing Director of Zytek Automotive, Steve Tremble, seperti dikutip dari Autoevolution, Jumat (2/4/2010).

Mercedes menyebut taksi elektirk ini E-Vito. Mobil itu mampu mengangkut hingga enam orang sejauh 120 km dalam sekali pehgisian baterai listriknya. Bila baterai habis, dapat diisi ulang lagi dengan memakan waktu enam jam.

E-Vito menggunakan motor listrik bertenaga 75kW (95hp) yang disuplai dari baterai Li-ion yang mempunyai power 35 kWh. Untuk motor listrik dipakai keluaran Zytek, sementara baterai listriknya dipasok dari Valence.

Sedang transmisi E-Vito, pabrikan Jerman itu memilih merek Vocis yang disuplai oleh Graziano. Selain itu, disematkan pula teknologi yang memungkinkan roda belakang bisa membelok. Dengan begitu radius putar E-Vito bisa mencapai 7,6m.

Posisi motor listrik terpasang di atas mesin dan ada penambahan air untuk mencegah panas dari mesin. Kabel-kabel listrik bertegangan tinggi dan rendah saling berhubungan. Begitu juga sistem lainnya seperti ABS (antilock braking system), ESP (electronic stability program) dan OBD (onboard diagnotics).

Untuk memuluskan proyek kendaraan listrik ini, Mercedes-Benz Inggris memberi kepercayaan kepada Zytek, Valence Technologies & Penso. Untuk pemasaran akan diserahkan kepada Zyteck.

Ajanta Group working on e-car for India: Zindabad!!!

2010-03-28T23:52:00.000-07:00

The Ajanta Group, which already sells electric scooters in India under the Oreva brand, claims it will soon launch its electric car in the country. Though technical details are not available at this time, Rakesh Nathwani, Oreva’s national marketing head, claims that the car will be able to run 200-250km on one full battery charge.

It is ironic that Tata Motors have finally chosen Sanand village in Gujarat where the Nano will be made, because the Oreva electric car – which is also expected to be priced at around Rs one lakh – will also be made at Morbi, in Gujarat. Ajanta/Oreva already manufacture their e-scooters at their facility in Morbi, and will also launch their e-car from the same factory.

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Signalauto.net ready to support "mobnas project"

2010-03-27T01:14:00.000-07:00

In their release in "mobnas" facebook, signalauto.net express their support and readiness to take part in the building of "mobnas project".

signalauto.net or SIGNAL KUSTOM BUILT was found in Bandung, Indonesia. Opened in 2005, They became the leader in auto modification and custom painting in town. They had rebuilt and won many contest cars, especially well known by the extreme transformation of ‘97 Panther Pick Up into Hummer H2 SUT. With their product quality, team creativity, and variety of design, they could transform any vehicle into a unique work of art.

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Ternyata Jerman Melalui Mercedes Pernah Menyuap Damri: Saatnya Indonesia Memakai Bus Lokal

2010-03-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

Perusahaan Daimler, yang membuat mobil dan bus Mercedes, terungkap pernah menyuap pejabat BUMN di Perum Damri. Namun, Kementerian BUMN menjamin pengadaan bus setelah tahun 2005 bebas dari suap.

Penyuapan Daimler di Indonesia adalah bagian dari kasus penyuapan besar-besaran pabrik Mercedes itu di 22 negara yang diungkap oleh US Department of Justice (Depkum HAM AS). Daimler kini menghadapi tuntutan di AS atas praktek penyuapan yang diungkap Depkum HAM AS.

Penyuapan ini untuk melancarkan tender pengadaan mobil, bus atau truk Mercedes dengan pemerintah setempat. Nah, di Indonesia, yang kebagian uang suap Daimler adalah Perum Damri yang menerima US$ 41.000. Uang itu untuk keanggotaan golf, hadiah perkawinan dan bentuk penyuapan lain untuk pejabat terkait.

"Saya yakin kalau pengadaannya tahun 2006 ke atas, tidak ada pejabat BUMN yang terlibat," kata Sekretaris Kementerian BUMN Said Didu saat dihubungi detikcom lewat telepon, Kamis (25/3/2010).

Menurut dia, Kementerian BUMN baru dibentuk tahun 2005. Perum Damri sebelum itu berada di bawah Kementerian Perhubungan.

"Saya sudah cek itu (suap Mercedes), tapi saya nggak tahu kapan pengadaannya. Tapi saya yakin itu sebelum ada Kementerian BUMN," jelas Said.

Memang, data dari Depkum HAM AS tidak menyebutkan tahun proyek pengadaan bus Damri yang menggandeng Mercedes. Depkum HAM AS hanya menyebutkan rentang waktu kejadian penyuapan di 22 negara itu pada 1998-2008.

"Saya juga nggak tahu persis orangnya (pejabat Damri) masih menjabat atau tidak sekarang ini," pungkasnya.

Sementara itu Dirut Perum Damri, Iwitjara Adjie, belum bisa dikonfirmasi terkait hal ini. Dia tidak merespons saat dihubungi beberapa kali lewat ponselnya.

Tata Motors to introduce Air Car

2010-03-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

India's largest automaker Tata Motors is set to start producing the worldâ€™s first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy NÃ¨gre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engineâ€™s pistons.

Mari Merancang Mobil Supersport Sendiri

2010-03-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

Bagi sebagian besar masyarakat, tentu sulit memiliki mobil supersport seperti Ferrari atau Lamborghini. Tapi, rasa penasaran itu bisa terobati dengan situs interaktif yang disiapkan oleh produsen mobil supersport asal Swedia, Koenigsegg, sebagai sarana hiburan.

Mobil yang ditampilkan merupakan model terbaru, yakni Koenigsegg Agera 2011, yang baru dipamerkan dalam ajang Geneva Motor Show awal tahun ini. Melalui situs resminya, pabrikan menyediakan "peralatan" desain bagi semua pengakses yang ingin menciptakan Agera versinya masing-masing.

Beberapa pilihan disediakan mulai dari bentuk dan warna velg, termasuk sentuhan detail warna lain, seperti Sparkling Topaz dan Emerald Green. Selain itu, juga terdapat tiga pilihan model sayap belakang kendaraan, antara lain F1 Double Wing dan Top Gear. Masuk ke dalam interior, juga disediakan pilihan untuk menunjukkan sentuhan pribadi, terdapat 10 pilihan warna dan fitur gadget seperti konektivitas USB dan satelit navigasi bisa aplikasikan.

Di dunia nyata, dapur pacu mobil mengusung mesin 4,7 liter V8 dengan tenaga maksimum 898 dk @ 6.850 rpm dan torsi 1.100 Nm @ 5.100 rpm. Bobot Agera tercatat 1.290 kilogram dan memiliki akselerasi 0-100 km/jam dalam 3,1 detik dan mencapai 200 km/jam dalam 8,9 detik. Kecepatan maksimum bisa mencapai 390 km/jam.

Fitur standar lainnya adalah dual airbags, hardtop dengan atap kaca, power window, sayap belakang, kemudi yang bisa disesuaikan, rem karbon keramik dengan fitur Sport ABS, hydraulic lifting system, power steering, dan tambahan sabuk pengaman 4-titik.

Untuk peranti digital, beberapa fitur, seperti Satnav, MP3 player, koneksi USB, kontrol iklim, sistem peringatan dan info digital, alarm, indikator elektronik ban, kunci dari bahan perak, bahan kulit untuk karpet, tempat penyimpanan, tas, hingga kudung mobil.

Mobindo: Produsen Bus Nasional

2010-03-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

Gabungan beberapa karoseri nasional mengembangkan perakitan sasis bus buatan dalam negeri yang diberi nama Mobindo (Mobil Indonesia).

Rencananya Mobindo mulai diproduksi pada bulan Oktober 2009 dengan investasi awal hingga US$ 10 juta.

Direktur Utama PT Mekar Armada Jaya (New Armada) David Herman Jaya mengatakan Mobindo dikembangkan oleh 5 pemegang saham utama antara lain Adi Putro, Armada Jaya, Dongpung, Honda dan Askarindo.

"Produksi awal kami akan produksi 500-1000 unit sasis bus per tahun," katanya saat ditemui di gedung Departemen Perindustrian, Kamis malam (13/8/2009).

Rencananya Mobindo akan memproduksi jenis sasis bus untuk ukuran 9 meter keatas dengan target pasar metromini untuk wilayah pedesaan.

"Produksinya untuk memenuhi permintaan pasar dalam negeri," katanya.

Dikatakannya selama ini produk sasis banyak diimpor dari luar negeri. Sehingga dengan adanya produk sasis Mobindo kebutuhan sasis bus bisa depenuhi dari dalam negeri meskipun dalam jumlah terbatas.

"Kita akan maksimalkan komponen lokal semua, tujuanya kita lokal," jelasnya.

David menambahkan total kebutuhan mobil komersial termasuk bus per tahunnya mencapai 65.000-70.000 unit per tahun. Sampai saat ini total perusahaan karoseri di tanah air mencapai 400 perusahaan, dengan tenaga kerja sekitar 40.000-50.000 orang.

Pelan Tapi Pasti, Mobnas Akan Terwujudkan

2010-03-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Usaha menciptakan mobil Indonesia dengan harga terjangkau terus berlanjut. Riset menjadi unggulan nasional.

Pagi itu, 18 September 2003, langit di Lingkungan Industri Kecil (LIK) Takaru, Kelurahan Dampyak, Kecamatan Kramat, Kabupaten Tegal, terlihat cerah. LIK, yang berdiri sejak 1982 di atas lahan lebih dari 9 hektare, mulai terlihat denyutnya. Ramai dengan suara mesin las, bubut dan gergaji yang menderu. Suara riuh ini seakan menyambut pencanangan proyek kerja sama produksi dan pemanfaatan engine multiguna antara PT Surya Pantura, Badan Pengkajian dan Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT) dan Pemerintah Kabupaten Tegal, yang ditandatangani pada hari yang sama.

Berbeda dengan proyek mobil nasional (Mobnas) -diputuskan melalui Inpres No. 2/1996- yang mengimpor langsung produknya dari Korea Selatan, dalam rencananya kali ini, Kamsi Ranosaputro, Direktur Utama PT Surya Pantura, tidak muluk-muluk. Ia ingin melibatkan industri hulu sampai hilir yang ada di Tegal dengan melibatkan ratusan pengusaha kecil yang tergabung dalam Lingkungan Industri Kecil (LIK) Takaru melalui cluster system. Menurut Dinas Perindutrian Perdagangan dan Tenaga Kerja. Kab. Tegal, 2.761 perajin logam akan terserap dalam proyek ini. Rancang bangun mesinnya 100% dikerjakan oleh putra Indonesia. Produknya berupa mobil angkutan ekonomis yang terjangkau bagi dunia usaha. Bekerja sama dengan Badan Pengkajian Penerapan Teknologi (BPPT), Kamsi menjagokan mesin aluminium mulitiguna 500cc.

Mesin ini dirancang oleh nama yang tak asing lagi di industri otomotif nasional, Suparto Soejatmo, Presiden Direktur PT Indo Tekno Mandiri (ITM). Mantan Direktur Utama PT Timor Distribusi Nasional ini memperoleh bantuan dari DR. Utama H. Padmadinata, Director For Material Technology Center, BPPT dan tim. ITM telah menghasilkan sejumlah mesin yang beberapa di antaranya sudah diproduksi masal.

Mobil Indonesia

Dalam wawancara dengan BusinessWeek Indonesia bulan lalu, Suparto bersemangat mewujudkan proyek ini guna menghadirkan mobil yang bisa dibeli oleh masyarakat. “Mobil Indonesia”, demikian Suparto menyebutnya. Mesin 500cc sengaja dipilihnya,”Supaya tidak head on dengan saudara-saudara tua kita,” tuturnya. Di Indonesia saat ini belum ada mobil yang bermain di kelas 500cc. Pesaing terdekatnya adalah Daihatsu Ceria 600 cc. “Tapi itu di Malaysia. 600cc versi yang paling murah, di sini mereka tidak masuk,” ujar Suparto. Selain cc yang rendah, desain mobil juga dibuat serbaguna. “Sehingga selain bisa untuk mobil penumpang, mobil ini juga bisa dipakai untuk mengangkut produk-produk pertanian,” tuturnya.

Kemampuan Suparto untuk merancang bangun mesin tidak lagi diragukan. Ia sudah merancang 4 buah mesin, diantaranya adalah mesin 1 silinder disel horizontal—yang sudah menjadi prototype dan diproduksi untuk alat pertanian oleh PT Nefa, di Tegal—mesin disel 1600cc dan 1300cc 4 silinder Indirect Injection (IDI) dan mesin disel 5 silinder 2500cc Direct Injection, twin cam, 4 valve yang dilengkapi turbo intercooler, serta mesin motor bensin 2 silinder 500 cc, yang sekarang menjadi proyek unggulan RUSNAS (Riset Unggulan Strategis Nasional) BPPT. “Dengan blok yang sama, mesin itu bisa menjadi mesin disel dengan perubahan yang sangat minor, dan bisa double, ke gas dan bensin,” ujar Suparto.

Kerjasama Suparto dengan BPPT dimulai pada 2001. Saat itu Suparto diundang BPPT untuk menghadiri satu seminar mengenai riset material. Di sana Ia bertemu DR. Utama, Direktur Teknologi Material BPPT. Proyek mesin aluminium yang dikerjakannya mendapat dukungan dari material yang kebetulan telah dikaji BPPT. Posisinya sebagai salah satu Ketua Jaringan Usaha Mandiri Indonesia (JUMI) kemudian membawanya bertemu dengan Menristek Hatta Rajasa dan membuat proyek ini menjadi Riset Unggulan Nasional (RUSNAS).

Menurut Utama, dalam wawancara dengan BusinessWeek Indonesia, program RUSNAS yang dimulai pada 2002 merupakan bentuk dari misi BPPT menjadi agen pembangunan dan mitra terpercaya bagi industri di bidang teknologi. Proses merancang mesin dan membuat prototype engine pertama, telah selesai Desember, 2003. “Kalau dilihat dari siklus mesin, kita tidak mulai dari nol,” ujarnya, karena itu, setelah proses rancang bangun mesin dari PT ITM jadi, “BPPT punya kewajiban untuk mewujudkannya,” tambahnya lagi. Dari prototype pertama, menurut Utama, akan dilakukan modifikasi dan pengujian di Balai Teknologi Thermodinamika Motor dan Propulsi. Pengujian ini meliputi simulasi beban, tanjakan, turunan dan emisi. Setelah itu baru diuji jalan. “Kita sudah ada satu MOU dengan Kancil, yang sekarang menggunakan mesin dari Jepang,” ujarnya.

Rp2,5 miliar

Kementrian Riset dan Teknologi bertanggung jawab atas dana program RUSNAS ini. Pada 2002 BPPT dan ITM telah memperoleh bantuan sebesar Rp500 juta, ditambah Rp1 miliar pada 2003.. Tahun ini, BPPT berencana mengajukan dana sebesar Rp 1 miliar untuk pembuatan prototype tahap ke-2. Dana ini menurut Utama tinggal menunggu persetujuan dari Direktorat Jenderal Anggaran, Departemen Keuangan.

Masalah pendanaan ini pula yang jadi keluhan Suparto. ITM mengajukan dana Rp1,5 milyar untuk rancang bangun prototype kedua,. “Kalau anggarannya ditekan, produksinya akan jelek,” ujar Suparto. Biaya terbesar ada di pengadaan peranti lunak asli yang seharga $70 ribu. Menurut DR. I Nyoman Jujur, Material Engineer, BPPT, apabila dana tersedia, diharapkan target uji tahun ini bisa terlaksana. “Selanjutnya kita akan membuat kira-kira 10 prototipe lagi,” tutur Nyoman. Pada Oktober tahun ini, BPPT akan mencoba mengganti penggunaan bahan bakar bensin dengan bahan bakar gas. “Kita juga mencoba mengganti karburator menjadi injection untuk mengantisipasi aturan pemerintah pada 2005,” tuturnya.

BPPT menargetkan konten lokal di atas 90%. Dengan kondisi ini, menurut Utama, proyek ini bisa bermanfaat bagi industri komponen di Tanah Air dan menciptakan lapangan kerja. “Itulah tujuan utama BPPT, sehingga IPTEK benar-benar bisa teraplikasi ke masyarakat,” ujarnya. Untuk mewujudkannya butuh waktu yang panjang. “Secara bertahap bisa 10 tahun,” ujar Suparto. Ketika mesin sudah jadi semua lalu tergantung pada investor seperti Kamsi. “BPPT bukan investor, mereka membantu kita. Kalau tidak ada BPPT pun kita jalan, tapi pelan-pelan,” ujar Suparto. Dengan adanya BPPT dan RUSNAS proyek ini diharapkan lebih cepat terlaksana.

Kuncinya ada di niat politik pemerintah. Menurut Suparto, harus ada komitmen bersama dari pihak-pihak terkait, termasuk lembaga internasional supaya tidak ada pihak yang merasa dirugikan. “Kita tidak akan minta proteksi. Tapi pemerintah bisa bilang ke WTO untuk mobil 500cc, pajaknya sekian,” ujarnya. Suparto juga tidak takut bersaing. “Saya siap diadu, kalau mesin saya jelek, masak ada orang Iran datang ke saya, juga orang Turki dan China?” tambahnya lagi. Rancang bangun mesin PT ITM, menurut Suparto, selalu memakai standar internasional. “Tapi ada yang saya rubah sehingga cocok dengan iklim yang ada disini,” ujarnya. Mesin 1240 cc, yang dulu dipesan untuk Timor—dan rencananya menjadi proptotype mobil nasional—kini telah jadi dalam bentuk satu unit mobil utuh dan sudah digunakan.

Dari sisi investor, Kamsi menyatakan siap. Walau tidak menyebut angka, PT Surya Pantura menurut Kamsi sudah mengalokasikan dana untuk memproduksi 5000 unit mesin per tahun. Kegiatan pabrikasi untuk proyek otomotif ini, menurut Kamsi, sudah dipersiapkan sejak November tahun lalu dan rencananya dimulai pada Juni tahun ini. Dari sketsa yang diperoleh BusinessWeek Indonesia, mobil ini akan dibuat dengan berbagai varian seperti sedan, pick up, dari mulai yang sederhana hingga yang mewah. Model awal rencananya akan dijual dengan harga di bawah Rp30 juta. Dengan disertai sertifikasi dari BPPT, Deperindag dan Departemen Perhubungan, mobil ini siap mengisi ceruk pasar mobil murah di Indonesia—demi mewujudkan sebuah mimpi, “Mobil Indonesia”.

“ Harus Jadi Prioritas ”
Soehari Sargo, Pengamat Otomotif, tanggal 27 Januari di Jakarta

Ada rencana membuat mobil nasional 500 cc. Apakah bisa bersaing?

Sebetulnya, kebutuhan Indonesia begitu besar, dari Jaguar di kota besar sampai yang paling sederhana di pelosok-pelosok. Jadi peluang pasarnya ada, karena kalau kita lihat di daerah-daerah, daya belinya sangat rendah dan juga kondisi infrastruktur masih sangat sederhana. Yang penting, pola transportasi atau pola penggunaan kendaraan berbeda dengan yang ada di kota-kota. Kalau di desa, mereka menggunakan kendaraan tidak hanya untuk pribadi tapi juga untuk mengangkut barang. Masuk ke sawah-sawah. Sehingga, akan sangat bermanfaat kalau ada kendaraan yang membantu dalam kelas harga maupun dalam fungsinya. Sebagai contoh di Jepang. Waktu Jepang baru selesai perang, ada kendaraan-kendaraan kecil, bahkan bemo, seperti Mazda kotak dsb. Demikian juga di India dan Thailand. Jadi kalau dilihat dari situ, seharusnya peluang pasarnya ada.

Apakah tidak akan bersaing dengan mobil sejenis yang cc-nya sama, yang akan datang dari Cina?

Itu juga menarik untuk dilihat. Namun untuk sementara ini, nampaknya belum ada. Pemain-pemain ini lebih banyak memperhatikan segmen sedan yang di atas 1500cc, itu satu. Yang kedua, China misalnya, sekarang lebih banyak memperhatikan pasar dalam negerinya yang sudah mencapai 4 juta dalam setahun. Walaupun daya beli masyarakat China masih agak rendah, permintaan begitu besar. Pemain-pemain otomotif dunia juga tidak meminati yang (cc-nya) kecil-kecil ini.

Apakah program ini membutuhkan proteksi dan dukungan penuh dari pemerintah?

Saya melihatnya bukan proteksi seperti yang berlaku dulu, tapi lebih pada pengembangan pasar. Misalnya, KUD dan usaha kecil mendapat fasilitas yang lebih baik untuk memiliki kendaraan. Kalau fasilitas dari sisi perpajakan saya kira itu sudah karena semua diproduksi di dalam negeri. Ada sebagian kecil yang diimpor tapi bea masuknya rendah. Sebentar lagi pasti nol dan karena itu tidak akan terkena pajak barang mewah hanya PPN saja. Jadi dalam konsep seperti itulah yang dimaksudkan sebagai proteksi. Kalau saya mengatakannya prioritas.

Bagaimana political will dari pemerintah karena ini sekarang ‘kan menjadi RUSNAS?

Yang masih ditunggu adalah kesinambungan dari program RUSNAS sampai ke kebijakan industri dan perdagangannya. Nah, ini yang belum. Itu urusannya kabinet.

Kalau melihat daya beli masyakarat, mobil dengan harga berapa yang mampu terserap oleh pasar?

Sekarang kalau dilihat pasarnya, kira-kira 70% penjualan ada di Jabotabek dengan harga rata-rata antara Rp150-200 juta. Artinya, masyarakat tipikal di Jabotabek sudah mampu membeli mobil dengan harga tersebut. Dan kalau kita lihat dari GDP regional, ada daerah yang kaya dan daerah yang terbelakang. Kalau harganya antara Rp100-150 juta, pasarnya terbatas di daerah yang sudah maju atau di kota-kota besar. Sementara di daerah-daerah, saya yakin mereka kurang tertarik. Kalau harganya bisa di bawah Rp50 juta saya rasa akan sangat kompetitif.

Ada kemungkinan bersaing dengan produsen lain seperti dengan Daihatsu Ceria yang 800cc?

Itu teknologinya beda. Kalau yang murah (teknologinya) masih sangat sederhana, tidak pakai karburator, tidak pakai AC, dan bodinya juga disederhanakan. Sejauh itu manfaat proyek ini harus didukung karena dulu ada Maleo. Yang menentukan nanti adalah pasar. Sekarang, bagaimana menumbuhkan pasar dengan memberi prioritas dan pengarahan-pengarahan.

Spesifikasi Mesin “Mobil Indonesia”

Tipe mesin: Bensin 4 langkah, 2 silinder SOHC, 2 valves

Total kapasitas silinder: 485 cc

Bore X Stroke: 65,5 mm X 72 mm

Rasio kompresi: 9:1

Tenaga maksimal: 23 kW (31 HP)/4000 rpm

Torsi maksimal: 55 Nm/3000 rpm

Putaran mesin (Rpm) maksimal: 6000 rpm

Langsam (idle speed): 700 rpm

Klep masuk (intake valve): 31,8 mm

Klep pembuangan (exhaust valve): 27 mm

Bahan baku blok silinder: AI (AC4B)

Bahan baku kepala silinder: Al (AC4B)

Sistem pendingin: Air

Sistem pengapian: CDI Distributor Less

Sistem bahan bakar: Karburator (pompa bahan bakar elektris)

Kapasitas oli: 3 liter

Mobnas Boneo Akan Jadi Mobil Impian

2010-03-22T02:02:00.001-07:00

Asianusa di facebook mereka meluncurkan sebuah produk mobnas anyar yang bakal mengisis kekosongan pada segmen mobil impian Indonesia. PT Boneo Daya Utamma, produsen Boneo, meluncurkan beberap tipe dengan variasi warna yang sangat menarik.

Lebih lanjut lihat di sini

i-MiEV Jadi Taksi di Tokyo

2010-03-22T00:59:00.000-07:00

Jika Anda pergi ke Tokyo sekarang, dan ingin naik taksi, kini ada pilihan taksi listrik. Setidaknya jika Anda sedang berada di distrik Otemachi, Marunouchi atau Yurakucho siang hari.

Adalah perusahaan Hinomaru Pramutamu yang kini menggunakan Mitsubishi i MiEV untuk armadanya, membuatnya menjadi yang pertama di Jepang yang menggunakan kendaraan listrik untuk disewakan.

Seperti dilansir Autoblog, Senin (22/3/2010) tarifnya juga tidak berbeda dengan perusahaan taksi lainnya, yaitu 710 Yen untuk 2 km pertama, dengan area lokal dan informasi pusat-pusat wisata.

Tidak hanya sekedar ramah lingkungan, kenyamanan pelanggan pun sangat diperhatikan, dengan menggunakan sopir wanita, serta penyajian minyak aromatik yang menyenangkan untuk membantu Anda rileks di dalam kabin.

Diberi nama The Zero Taxi Service, i MiEV taksi ini akan secara resmi diluncurkan hari Kamis minggu ini, di gedung Mitsubishi di Marunouchi, dimana nantinya media diberikan kesempatan menjajal taksi listrik ini gratis.

Di Tokyo, i MiEV akan mendampingi mobil ramah lingkungan lainnya seperti Prius yang menjadi armada taksi.

LIPI Lebih Memilih BUMN Untuk Produksi Massal Mobil Hybrid Made in Indonesia

2010-03-18T23:56:00.000-07:00

Lembaga Ilmu dan Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI) berharap ada Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BUMN) yang tertarik pada mobil hibrida garapan LIPI dan berniat untuk memproduksi mobil itu secara masal.

LIPI sendiri selama ini sudah bekerja keras untuk membuat mobil konsep yang ramah lingkungan dan juga hemat dalam penggunaan bahan bakar sejak 2005 hingga saat ini proses pengembang terus dilakukan.

Hal itu diungkapkan Deputi Ilmu Pengetahuan Teknik LIPI Syahrul Aiman di Bandung.

"ATPM mobil tentu susah karena mereka sudah concern pada produknya. Nah yang kita harapkan ada BUMN yang tertarik memproduksi massal mobil tersebut," ujar Syahrul.

Kenyataan itu tentu berat bagi LIPI, sebab persaingan mobil di zaman sekarang tentu ketat karena setiap produsen mobil dituntut untuk menciptakan mobil yang layak.

Menanggapi hal itu Syahrul menyatakan kesiapannya untuk membuat mobi tersebut bersaing dengan mobil hibrida lainnya.

"Kita tentu siap bersaing dengan yang lain," yakinnya.

Sebelumnya LIPI telah berhasil mengembangkan mobil konversi listrik dari sasis Toyota Kijang.

Satu lagi mobil hatchback atau si bungkuk yang saat ini pengembangannya terus dilakukan untuk mendapatkan titik maksimal. Si mobil hibrida hatchback itu mengadopsi mesin berkapasitas 160 cc.

Mobil Texmaco Macan MPV

2010-03-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

Macan, Kendaraan sejenis MPV dengan kapasitas mesin 1.800 cc dari PT. Texmaco, dengan menggandeng Mercedes Bens PT. Texmaco mengeluarkan kendaraan ini, dan satu unit prototype sudah dipamerkan di arena pekan Raya Jakarta pada pertengahan tahun 2001

Mobil Super Irit UGM Ingin Saingi Prancis

2010-03-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta membuat terobosan di bidang otomotif dengan meluncurkan "Semar". Ini adalah mobil irit yang dirancang bisa menempuh jarak 1.000 kilometer dengan satu liter bensin.

Mobil itu akan ditingkatkan lagi untuk menyaingi mobil Prancis. Menurut Suhanan, rekor jarak terjauh dengan 1 liter bensin dipecahkan mahasiswa Prancis, karena dengan 1 liter bisa menempuh jarak 3.700 kilometer. Microjoule -- nama prototipenya -- mampu menempuh sekitar 3.794 kilometer per liter.

Kendaraan ini akan diikutkan dalam "Shell Eco-Marathon" (SEM) Asia 2010 di Sirkuit Internasional Sepang, Malaysia, 8-11 Juli 2010, yang merupakan ajang pendidikan untuk memotivasi kreativitas dan inovasi mahasiswa menjawab tantangan di bidang kelangkaan energi pada masa depan dengan menciptakan kendaraan yang dapat menempuh jarak terjauh dengan BBM seminimal mungkin.

Keikutsertaan UGM Yogyakarta merupakan yang pertama kali bersama tiga perguruan tinggi lain, yakni Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) , Universitas Indonesia (UI) Jakarta, dan Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November (ITS) Surabaya di SEM Asia 2010.

Tim Semart terdiri atas 15 mahasiswa Fakultas Teknik UGM dengan koordinator Teofilus Hartono. Mereka dibimbing sejumlah dosen, antara lain, Dr Jayan Sentanuhady (mesin/prime power), Dr Alva Edy Tantowi (desain), dan Dr Suyitno (struktur).

Bentuk mobil "Semar" memang mirip kendaraan balap formula. Pengemudi duduk setengah berbaring dengan bobot tidak boleh melebihi 50 kilometer, sehingga yang bisa mengemudikan hanya perempuan, karena susah mencari pria berbobot kurang dari 50 kilogram.

Namun, efiesiensi yang dimiliki mobil itu mempunyai efek samping, karena hanya bisa berjalan maksimal dengan kecepatan 35 kilometer per jam. Artinya untuk menempuh perjalanan dari Anyer-Panarukan yang berjarak 1.000 km per liter membutuhkan waktu sekitar 30 jam. Hal ini bukan merupakan prestasi maksimal, kata Ketua Jurusan Teknik Mesin dan Industri Fakultas Teknik UGM, Suhanan.

Tim menjelang lomba akan mengupayakan agar kendaraan lebih ringan, yakni tidak lebih dari 20 kilogram. "Semar" didesain menggunakan dua roda berpenggerak di belakang dan satu steering roda depan. Penggerak pemula adalah mesin 4 tak berselinder tunggal dengan kapasitas 25 cc, yang diaplikasikan dengan sistem injeksi yang bisa diprogram.

Rektor UGM Prof Sudjarwadi mengatakan, pembuatan "Semar" adalah contoh rintisan terpuji dalam perjalanan mahasiswa calon pemimpin bangsa di bidangnya yang berambisi mengabdi untuk kepentingan bangsa dan kemanusiaan.

"Partisipasi di SEM Asia 2010 sesuai dengan salah satu visi dan misi UGM sebagai salah satu universitas terkemuka di Indonesia menuju perguruan tinggi Tri Dharma yakni kampus kerakyatan, kampus sosiokultural, dan universitas riset," katanya.

Country Chairman dan President Director PT Shell Indonesia, Darwin Silalahi mengatakan, SEM Asia 2010 memberikan kesempatan kepada generasi muda yang tertarik dengan teknologi, energi, dan transportasi sebagai sebuah wadah yang unik untuk menampilkan inovasi mereka.

"Kami bangga Tim Semart UGM sebagai salah satu dari sembilan tim dari Indonesia yang akan berlaga di SEM Asia 2010 sudah meluncurkan kendaraannya. Kami berharap kesembilan tim dari Indonesia, yakni UGM, ITS, UI, dan ITB dapat unjuk gigi dan berprestasi di tingkat internasional," katanya.

Ajang SEM baru pertama kali diselenggarakan di Asia. Ajang ini sudah digelar 25 tahun di Eropa dan kawasan Amerika. Even ini akan diikuti 111 tim dari 12 negara di Asia. Untuk setiap tim Indonesia, Shell mendukung dana 2.000 ribu dolar AS untuk pembuatan mobil, sedangkan akomodasi tim sebesar 2.250 dolar AS.

Mobil irit ini terbuat dari bahan ringan, yakni campuran fiber. Mobil ini juga dirancang memiliki bentuk yang mengurangi koefisien hambatan angin. Bentuknya seperti mobil balap Formula 1.

"Struktur rangka dari kendaraan `Semar` menggunakan kombinasi pelat dan profil almunium yang didesain sedemikian rupa sehingga berat dan struktur bodi tidak lebih dari 25 kilogram," kata pembimbing Tim Semart UGM, Jayan Sentanuhady, RAbu 17 Maret 2010, seusai menguji coba kendaraan itu dari University Club (UC) UGM Bulaksumur ke kawasan Malioboro Yogyakarta .

Kendaraan ini memiliki panjang total 2,7 meter, tinggi 0,8 meter, dan lebar 0,88 meter yang didesain dengan tiga roda berpenggerak di roda belakang dan steering roda depan.

Sebagai penggerak permulaan digunakan mesin 4 tak bersilinder tunggal dengan kapasitas 25 cc yang mengaplikasikan sistem injeksi yang dapat diprogram. Dengan sistem itu diharapkan konsumsi bahan bakar dapat dioptimalkan sesuai dengan kebutuhan riil.

Dengan konsep itu, "Semar" dapat melaju dengan konsumsi bahan bakar seminimal mungkin, sehingga menjadi kendaraan ramah lingkungan, karena dengan jarak tempuh 1.000 km hanya mengonsumsi BBM 1 liter bensin. Ini berarti jarak tempuh antara Anyer-Panarukan hanya menghabiskan 1 liter BBM, kata Jayan.

Marussia B2, Jati Diri Supercar Rusia

2010-03-18T01:27:00.000-07:00

Rusia akhirnya bisa menunjukkan jati dirinya melalui sebuah supercar. Marussia telah membuktikan dirinya sebagai produsen supercar pertama di Rusia yang menghadirkan sebuah mobil super yang diberi nama B2.

B2 memiliki mesin yang mampu memproduksi tenaga mencapai 414 bhp, dengan bobot kendaraan hanya 1.100 kg. Sehingga, kecepatan 0-100 km per jam bisa dicapai dalam waktu 3,2 detik, dengan kecepatan puncak lebih dari 250 km per jam.

More

Melongok industri otomotif buatan Sulawesi

2010-03-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

PT Bosowa Nusantara Motor, membuat motor bekerjasama dengan Hyosong Motors & Machinery Inc, Korsel.

Mobil Hibrida Rekayasa Indonesia, Seharga Rp 50 Juta

2010-03-07T21:42:00.000-08:00

Pada acara Eco Products International Fair, yang berlangsung dari 4–7 Maret lalu, ternyata ada hal yang cukup menarik di bidang otomotif tetapi kurang mendapatkan perhatian, yaitu mobil ramah lingkungan karya putra-putri bangsa Indonesia. Keduanya, mobil hibrida dan listrik di stan Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI).

Kedua mobil tersebut kurang begitu menarik perhatian karena salah satunya adalah Kijang Super keluaran awal 1990-an, dan satu lagi hatchback kecil. Hanya saja, tulisan di samping mobil itu cukup menarik bagi orang-orang tertentu. Pada Kijang Super ditulis “The 1st Electric Car Conversion”. Sedangkan satu lagi “The 1st Hybrid Elecric Vehicle”. Menariknya lagi, mobil hibrida ini kalau dibikin secara massal, ongkos produksinya diperkirakan Rp 50 juta.

Kedua mobil ditemui secara kebetulan karena sebagian wartawan menunggu acara pengumuman pemenang Toyota Eco Youth dengan panggung berada di depan stan LIPI. Bila tidak, bisa saja terlewatkan.

Berdasarkan keterangan Humas LIPI yang bertugas saat itu, Mustari, kedua mobil ini direkayasa oleh LIPI Bandung, yang menangani masalah instrumentasi dan mekatronika.

Tipe seri
Tentu saja menarik, di saat mobil hibrida lagi nge-tren di dunia saat ini, muncul karya asli buatan Indonesia. Sebuah hatchback kompak dengan penampilan secukupnya. Sayang, ketika diminta detail dimensinya, Mustari mengaku tidak mempunyai.

Hanya dijelaskan, mobil ini dilengkapi dengan generator dengan mesin 160 cc di belakang, sedangkan baterai di depan. Fungsi mesin untuk mengisi baterai. Selanjutnya mobil dijalankan oleh baterai. Tepatnya, mobil hibrida yang dicoba diteliti oleh LIPI adalah tipe seri. Artinya, mobil digerakkan oleh motor listrik.

Dari spesifikasi sumber penggerak dijelaskan, mobil ini menggunakan motor listrik 2-fasa dengan tegangan 72 volt, arus AC. Tenaga maksimum yang bisa dihasilkan 43 PS pada putaran 7.500 rpm. Sedangkan torsi 129 Nm. Sistem kontrol 72 volt/550 ampere.

Untuk baterai, memang bukan lithium-ion. Namun, paketnya adalah 72 volt/220 Ah. Mobil dilengkapi dengan charger 72V/25 ampere. Menurut Mustari, kemampuan mobil ini untuk dikebut 70 km/jam.

Interior mobil ini sangat sederhana dan tampaknya dikerjakan oleh mereka yang bukan ahli di bidangnya. Ini bisa dilihat dari jahitan trim interior, baik jok, setir, dan dashboard. Bahkan ketika pintu coba dibuka-tutup, tidak seperti kondisi mobil yang dijual di pasaran.

Menurut Mustari, mobil hibrida yang dikerjakan dengan trail and error menghabiskan dana Rp 200 juta. “Kalau dibikin secara massal, harganya bisa Rp 50 juta, seperempat harga penelitian,” jelasnya. Kondisinya tanpa AC dan perlengkapan hiburan serta kemudahan pengemudi atau penumpang lainnya.

Dijelaskan pula, mobil ini mulai dikerjakan LIPI sejak tahun lalu dan lebih diutamakan untuk mendalami sistem penggeraknya. “Kita coba memamerkan, siapa tahu ada perusahaan yang ingin memanfaatkan, melakukan investasi membuat mobil hibrida rekayasa ahli kita,” jelas Mustari.

Baterai
Achmad Rizal, Marcomm PT TAM, insinyur lulusan ITB, ketika diminta komentar tentang mobil hibrida dan listrik LIPI ini mengatakan, secara pribadi pengembangan yang dilakukan oleh LIPI ini kurang pas. “Kalau mau mengembangkan teknologi, coba bikin baterai. Pengembangan yang banyak dilakukan perusahaan sekarang ini fokus pada baterai,” tegasnya.

Dijelaskan, komponen seperti motor listrik, sistem kontrol (elektronik), dan lainnya tidak menjadi masalah. "Coba kalau dibikin baterai yang bisa diisi dengan cepat, ringan, dan kemampuan menyimpan energi tinggi, dipastikan akan dicari bukan hanya oleh produsen mobil, juga oleh gadget elekronik,” komentar Rizal.

Russia unveils 20-billion-dollar plan to save car industry

2010-03-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

The government unveiled a plan to invest almost 20 billion dollars over the next decade to transform the embattled Russian car industry into a major global player.

Some 584 billion rubles (19.6 billion dollars) of state funds will be invested in the car industry to 2020, Industry Minister Viktor Khristenko said after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"Our end goal is to have in this country a modern auto industry which includes the whole supply chain up to the end product," Putin said, according to a transcript of his remarks on the Russian government's website.

"We need to work hard to make the national auto industry more competitive," he added.

Russia's auto market, before the global financial crisis considered to have the best growth prospects in Europe, shrunk 49 percent in 2009. It has begun to stabilise but in January, it was still down 37 percent compared with a year earlier.

Worst hit by the crisis has been Russia's biggest carmaker Avtovaz, builder of the Lada car and employer of more than 100,000 people, which officials admit has been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy by the crisis.

Putin praised Russia's success in attracting virtually all the world's top auto manufacturers to invest in the country and manufacture their brands at Russian plants.

Including investment by foreign auto companies, the government expects a total of up to 1.2 trillion rubles (40 billion dollars) to be invested in the auto industry by 2020, Khristenko said.

Mobil Murah Sejagat Kini Bertenaga Listrik

2010-03-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Meski lebih dikenal sebagai mobil paling murah sejagat, Tata Nano sepertinya masih bisa mengikuti tren dunia sekarang ini. Karena meskipun berharga murah, Nano ternyata masih mampu menunjukkan inovasi teknologinya.

Hal tersebut Nano buktikan di ajang Geneva Auto Show yang saat ini sedang berlangsung.

Di ajang yang dimeriahkan oleh kelahiran lebih dari 100 mobil baru itu, Tata seolah tidak mau kalah dengan pabrikan-pabrikan besar lain dalam menunjukkan teknologi yang mereka miliki dengan memperkenalkan Tata Nano yang digerakan oleh tenaga listrik, bukan bensin seperti mobil konvensional lain.

Secara fisik, memang tidak banyak yang berubah di mobil India itu, tetap mungil. Nano versi listrik ini masih mampu berakselerasi dari 0-60 km/jam dalam waktu kurang dari 10 detik.

"Listrik akan menjadi bagian integral dari inisiatif kami untuk meluncurkan kendaraan ramah lingkungan. Indica Vista EV yang akan diperkenalkan di beberapa negara Eropa, mulai tahun ini bisa jadi contoh. Dan kami akan memperkenalkan kendaraan listrik di semua pasar yang lebih relevan," ujar Vice Chairman Tata Motors Ravi Kant di sela-sela gelaran Geneva Motor Show seperti detikOto kutip dari autoevolution, Kamis (4/3/2010).

Tata Nano versi listrik ini sendiri memang menggunakan platform tenaga dari baterai lithium ion yang sama dengan yang digunakan oleh Tata Indica Vista EV yang masih menjadi satu-satunya kendaraan listrik di lineup Tata saat ini.

Negara pertama yang akan dijajah oleh Nano listrik ini adalah Inggris dan negara-negara di Skandinavia.

Namun anehnya, kampung halaman Nano, India, ternyata tidak masuk dalam daftar negara yang akan dijajah mobil listrik mungil ini. Sehingga rakyat India sepertinya harus berpuas diri dengan Nano 'biasa' yang menggunakan mesin konvensional dengan bahan bakar bensin.

Padahal Eropa, selain akan dimasuki oleh Nano listrik sekitar 3 tahun lagi ternyata juga menjadi target utama pemasaran Nano bensin yang rencananya akan dikeluarkan tahun depan.

Mobil mewah Bufori Geneva tidak dujual di eropa dan Amerika

2010-03-03T17:46:00.000-08:00

Pendiri dan pemilik Bufori, Anthony Khouri menyebutkan bahwa ia dan kedua saudaranya George dan Gerry telah begitu jatuh cinta dengan salah satu kota di Swiss, yakni Jenewa.

Mereka pun sepakat untuk memberi nama mobil mewah mereka sesuai dengan nama ibukota Swiss, Jenewa pada mobil sedan baru mereka.

Seperti dilansir dari siaran pers Bufori, Kamis (4/3/2010), produsen mobil yang berbasis di Malaysia ini secara resmi mereka menamakan sedan mewah terbaik yang pernah diciptakan Bufori sebagai Bufori Geneva, yang juga dipamerkan dalam gelaran Geneva Motor Show.

Bufori Geneva didukung mesin berkapasitas 6,1 liter V8, menghasilkan tenaga yang mengesankan 430 hp dan torsi 586 Nm. Akselerasi 0-100 kilometer per jam di bawah 6 detik, dengan kecepatan tertinggi lebih dari 260km per jam.

Ini yang paling menarik, ketika kita melongok bagian interiornya. Tim desain interior telah mengupayakan untuk menciptakan suasana santai, dengan mengkombinasikan bahan-bahan tradisional dan modern seperti kulit dan kayu.

Ruang interior dipenuhi dengan cahaya alami, diperkuat oleh Sunroof opsional dan dilengkapi dengan pencahayaan suasana hati yang terintegrasi. Kabinnya pun tidak hanya sekedar ada mini bar atau kulkas saja.

Tapi Bufori Geneva lebih jauh menawarkan beberapa fitur unik termasuk instan tea set dengan dispenser, alat pembuat kopi Espresso, cool box & mini bar untuk
champagne, kotak cerutu, bahkan brankas penyimpanan uang dan benda berharga.

Belum lagi urusan entertaiment, dimana fitur dan sistem multimedia komprehensif berdefinisi tinggi memberikan surround sound dan pilihan 1, 2 atau 3 monitor layar sentuh.

Begitu juga untuk urusan keamanan, dimana Geneva memiliki rangka semi monocoque state-of-the-art Hybrid Carbon Fibre dan Kevlar, yang lebih kuat dari baja, ringan dan pemeliharaan minimum untuk seumur hidup.

Anti Lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Traction Control, Steering Angle Control dan Adaptive Cruise Control dimasukkan
untuk memberikan rasa lebih menyenangkan dan aman berkendara.

Juga ada Night Vision Thermal Imaging kamera. Jika diaktifkan, siang atau malam, fitur keamanan ini mendeteksi pejalan kaki dan benda hingga 300 meter jauhnya dan menampilkannya di layar.

Setiap satu unit Bufori Geneva melewati 24 tahap pengerjaan, yang dilakukan oleh 6.000 pekerja. Sehingga, meskipun Bufori memiliki kapasitas produksi hingga 300 unit, namun Geneva hanya akan diproduksi 60 unit saja.

Namun, anda tidak akan melihat Geneva di Amerika, karena Bufori akan memfokuskan penjualan Geneva di sekitar Asia Tenggara, Timur Tengah, China dan India.

Indonesia's Arina, ESEMKA or GEA manufacturer should join D8's common brand car

2010-03-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

This momentum should be used by Indonesia to establish its own car plant since the joint venture of D-8 car will be establish by common capital by the member states.

The developing eight countries (D8) agreed to jointly produce a car under a common brand name, the D8 automotive specialized working group chairman said here on Monday.

The Moj news agency quoted Mohammadreza Roshani-Moqaddam as saying that the D8 member states currently produce around 5 percent of cars in the world.

Iran, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey are the D8 member states which took part in the 5th meeting of working groups on industrial cooperation in Tehran from February 28 to March 1.

“The D8 would be a suitable market for the car,"" the official said adding, the produced car could even be exported to other countries.

“Since Iran, Turkey, and Malaysia are the only member countries that have car manufacturing factories, the common brand car will be designed by these three,” he explained.

According to him, economic justification studies will be completed in 6 months and the plan will be followed up in the next D8 meeting in Istanbul.

Following the “Conference on Cooperation for Development”, on October 22, 1996, and after a series of preparatory meetings, the establishment of D8 was announced officially by the Summit of Heads of State in Istanbul, on June 15, 1997.

The objectives of D8 are to improve developing countries' positions in the world economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at the international level, and provide better standards of living..

Seharusnya yang dibail-out itu mobnas seperti bail-out GM oleh Obama

2010-02-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

Seharusnya yang dibail-out itu proyek mobnas seperti yang dilakukan Obama dengan mobnas mereka GM. Proyek ini menyediakan lapangan kerja bagi jutaan orang yang juga industri turunanya. Satu lagi yang perlu di bail-out adalah IPTN dipecah menjadi PT Di dan 5 perusahaan sejenis lainnya. Utang negara dan pajak rakyat dibuat untuk mengganti rugi sebuah bank yang dirampok sendiri oleh pemilik dan para nasabah fiktifnya.

I am Responsible For Century: Yudhoyono

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday (25/2) that responsibility on Bank Century scandal lies heavily on himself as head of the state and announced to make an official speech, after his meeting with chairmen of the upper house.

Upon starting a second meeting in the day with his cabinet members Yudhoyono said “I as the head of state of certainly the most responsible person, I will make my official speech.”

The official address reportedly will be made soon but the president stopped short on disclosing the time.
Yudhoyono said further “I will construct the speech directly before the public.”

The conclusions from each party in the parliamentary inquiry presented on Wednesday (24/2) absolutely no mention of Yudhoyono's name as the official that should be held accountable for the scandal, focusing their attack instead on Vice President Boediono, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Board of Governors of Bank Indonesia, State Deposit Insurance Company, and other officials including one presidential staff.

But the conclusion was not presented before the inquiry committee went to consult the scandal with chairman of the Golkar Party Aburizal Bakrie.

Yudhoyono also advised Vice President Boediono, who is celebrating his 67th birthday today to be prepared and tough.

Indonesia's made Solid Ceramics Battery (SCB) Lithium

2010-02-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI) berhasil membuat produk baterai baru yang diklaim kali pertama di dunia.

LIPI telah mengembangkan baterai lithium berbahan keramik padat yang disebut sebagai Solid Ceramics Battery (SCB) Lithium. SCB Lithium ini menggunakan komposit material gelas keramik.

Baterai model baru itu, sebagaimana dikutip dari www.lipi.go.id, disebutkan dapat digunakan pada mobil hibrida. Bambang Prihandoko, peneliti Material dan Komposit Pusat Penelitian Fisika LIPI, menyatakan dengan bahan tersebut sistem fuel tidak lagi memerlukan sistem pendingin.

Pasalnya, baterai lithium dari keramik ini dapat menahan panas hingga 200 derajat Celcius. Selama ini, mobil hibrida sendiri masih menggunakan baterai berbahan polimer padat yang tidak tahan panas. Sehingga masih memerlukan sistem pendingin.

LIPI, lanjut Bambang Prihandoko, telah mengembangkan baterai dari polimer padat berbentuk prototipe. Baterai ini telah dipatenkan oleh LIPI, sehingga sudah bisa diproduksi secara massal.

Namun, sambung dia, baterai lithium buatan LIPI memang belum diujicobakan pada kendaraan listrik fuel cell buatan LIPI yang masih menggunakan lead acid atau aki konvensional.

‘Penemuan ini adalah kali pertama di dunia. Apabila dibandingkan dengan polimer padat, kelebihan SCB Lithium ini mampu menahan panas sampai 200 derajat Celcius, sehingga tidak diperlukan lagi sistem pendingin,’ jelas Bambang Prihandoko di Jakarta, awal bulan ini.Sementara, mobil hibrida saat ini yang berhasil dikembangkan oleh pabrikan di dunia, masih banyak menggunakan Solid Polymer Battery (SPB) Lithium. Dengan begitu, setiap jamnya harus di-charge ulang.Sedangkan SCB Lithium yang dikembangkan oleh LIPI, pengisian fuel cell-nya dapat dilakukan setelah dua jam untuk penggunaan tiap 100 km per jam. SCB memiliki tegangan sebesar 3,3 volt dan 200 miliAmpere, yang dapat diserikan ataupun diparalelkan pemasangannya. Dengan begitu kemampuannya bisa meningkat.

Bambang Prihandoko menambahkan kendaraan listrik produk LIPI, yaitu Marmut LIPI (Marlip), juga akan dimodifikasi menjadi Fuell Cell Vehicle dari SCB Lithium. ‘Saat ini masih dalam taraf pengujian dan prototipe untuk Marlip, yang akan disempurnakan pada tahun 2014.’

Eritrea may buy buses from Mowasalat

2010-02-25T02:21:00.000-08:00

Eritrea may buy buses from Mowasalat as part of a co-operation agreement that is expected to be signed soon by the two sides.

Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki, during a visit to Mowasalat headquarters yesterday expressed interest to strengthen co-operation with the company to promote the public transport sector in his country.

Afewerki was in Doha in connection with the Darfur peace agreement that was signed here on Tuesday.

The President was received at the Karwa headquarters by Mowasalat chairman and managing director Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti, its business development director Ahmed Al Ansari and other senior company officials.

More than 120 Eritrean drivers working with Mowasalat greeted their President waving the Eritrean flag. Afewerki toured the various facilities at the new Karwa City that is getting ready at the Mowasalat premises in the Industrial Area.

“The visit came on the initiative of the President himself. This marks a continuation of our partnership in the public transport sector. We have a number of Eritreans working as drivers and other staff in our company. We hope the visit would help expand this co-operation to more areas,” said Al Sulaiti, addressing a press conference at the end of the visit.

“We are looking forward to signing a co-operation agreement with Eritrea in the public transport sector,” he added. He hinted that Eritrea may buy a few buses from Mowasalat as part of the partnership.

“The scope of our co-operation is wider than the purchase of a few buses. It would expand to the IT sector, public transport systems and models. The President was deeply impressed by the range and quality of our services,” added Al Sulaiti.

Tunisia to sell Morocco-made cars

2010-02-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

Tunisia will begin selling a Moroccan-manufactured automobile, Trade Minister Reda Ben Mesbah said in Tunis on Friday (January 8th). The deal to market the "Renault Logan" comes nearly three years after the Agadir Agreement exempted cars made by member states Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan and Egypt from customs tariffs, MAP noted.

Indonesia Produksi Mobil Murah di 2011

2010-02-24T05:06:00.000-08:00

Pemerintah menargetkan produksi komersial mobil murah dan ramah lingkungan (low cost dan eco car) bisa berjalan di tahun 2011.

Karenanya, pemerintah tengah mematangkan kebijakan pemerintah dalam rangka mendorong industri otomotif sesuai Peraturan Presiden (Perpres) 28 Tahun 2008 tentang Kebijakan Industri Nasional.

Deputi Menko Perekonomian Bidang Industri dan Perdagangan Edy Putra Irawady mengatakan, saat ini, pembicaraan masih dilakukan di lintas departemen. "Mudahan-mudahan tahun depan, komitmen sudah masuk dan 2011 bisa dilakukan produksi komersial," kata Edy kepada KONTAN, Rabu (4/11). Edy menjelaskan, langkah ini untuk mendorong pemerataan ekonomi di daerah.

Direktur Jenderal Alat Industri Transportasi dan Telematika Departemen Perindustrian Budi Dharmadi menambahkan, pemerintah siap mengucurkan insentif fiskal bagi produsen mobil guna memuluskan rencana itu. "Pemerintah hanya menyiapkan regulasi dan industri perlu intens untuk itu. Makanya perlu diberi insentif," jelasnya.

Edy Putra menjelaskan, insentif yang paling mungkin diberikan pemerintah adalah pajak pertambahan nilai ditanggung pemerintah (PPN DTP).

Produsen Mobnas Minta Pemerintah Proteksi Pasar Mobil Murah

2010-02-24T05:04:00.000-08:00

Produsen mobil nasional (mobnas) meminta pemerintah membatasi ruang gerak prinsipal asing di pasar mobil murah dengan harga Rp 100 juta ke bawah, sehingga industri mobil asli lokal tersebut mampu berkembang bebas.

Ketua Umum Asosiasi Industri Automotif Nusantara (Asia Nusa) Ibnu Susilo mengatakan, langkah proteksi tersebut sudah lazim ditempuh oleh suatu negara ketika membesarkan industri mobilnya. “Seperti perusahaan otomotif yang sudah mapan pasti beranjak dari kilometer nol dan mereka berkembang lewat dukungan berupa proteksi dan berbagai insentif dari pemerintahnya,” kata Ibnu.

Dia mencontohkan, dukungan penuh yang Pemerintah Malaysia kepada produsen otomotif domestiknya, yakni Proton. “Mereka
juga mulai dari kondisi yang sekarang sedang dijalankan oleh produsen otomotif Indonesia,” terang dia.

Asia Nusa beranggotakan beberapa merek mobnas, seperti Tawon, Gea, Arina, ITM, Fin Komodo, dan Wakaba. Dengan spesifikasi produksi kendaraan bermotor kelas mikro berkapasitas mesin dibawah 1.000 cc. Harga yang ditawarkan atas produk tersebut dikisaran Rp 30 juta-Rp 60 juta per unit. “Pasar inilah yang belum tergarap oleh prinsipal asing. Tapi kabar terakhirnya sudah ada lima prinsipal yang siap terjun ke pasar tersebut,” ujar dia.

Asia Nusa merasa, pemerintah perlu melindungi industri mobnas yang baru memasuki tahap pengembangan komersil berkembang tersebut. Apalagi, Asia Nusa memprediksi pasar mobil mikro mencapai 1,2 juta unit tahun ini. Hanya saja, pemerintah sepertinya belum tanggap terhadap perkembangan industri mobnas tersebut. Pasalnya, banyak hambatan yang mesti dilalui oleh produsen ketika masuk ke pasar komersil.

Misalkan, terang Ibnu, perizinan untuk mengendarai mobil mikro di jalan aspal (on the road). Akibatnya, pesanan konsumen kepada produsen dari Pameran Produksi Indonesia (PPI) di tahun lalu belum terkirim. “Saat PPI tahun lalu antusias pengunjung lumayan tinggi untuk membeli mobnas. Malah dari data yang terkumpul sekitar 3.000 unit belum dapat dikirim ke konsumen hingga saat ini,” ungkapnya.

Iran-Khodro Registers New Record in Car Production

2010-02-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

Iran's largest auto-manufacturer, Iran-Khodro Company (IKCO), announced that it has set a new record in the production of passenger cars in Iran and surpassed its last year production capacity of 600,000 units in just eleven months.

"The company produced 600,460 units of different types of passenger cars and pickups since the beginning of the current Iranian year (starts March 21, 2009) to February 13, 2010, while it had produced 600,006 units last year," IKCO Deputy CEO Javad Dehnadi said.

"We achieved the new record eleven days earlier than the last year's record breaking," he stated, adding that IKCO has targeted the production of 680 thousand cars for the current year.

Dehnadi reiterated that 93,920 different types of Samand, 150,929 units of Peugeot 405, 93,253 units of Peugeot Pars, 101,285 different types of Peugeot 206, 47,070 units of Peugeot Roa, 103,692 Bardo pickups, 6,552 units of Tondar 90 and 3,616 units of Grand Vitara as well as 143 units of other vehicles have been produced in IKCO so far.

Earlier this month, IKCO had announced that it has increased its production rate by 16% since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 20,2009).

Iran's state-owned Iran-Khodro is the largest carmaker in the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa, with an annual production of more than one million vehicles of various models, including cars, trucks, minibuses and buses.

IKCO is also ramping up exports as it builds a global presence outside Iran.

The company officials have said they want to boost annual production to more than a million vehicles and hike exports to more than 600,000 by 2016.

2016, 466 Juta Unit Motor Listrik Padati Jalan

2010-02-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

Hasil penelitian Pike Research mengatakan bahwa pada tahun 2016 sekitar 466 juta unit sepeda motor listrik akan memadati jalanan di dunia. Hal ini disebabkan tren masyarakat dunia untuk membeli kendaraan bermotor yang murah, hemat bahan bakar, dan efisien.

"Di beberapa negara, kendaraan sepeti ini menjadi motor penggerak perekonomian sebuah negara. Sementara untuk negara lainnya menjadikan sebuah sinyal bahwa adanya perubahan prilaku konsumen dalam memilih kendaraan yang efisien," ujar analis industri Dave Hurst.

Hurst menambahkan bahwa di kawasan Asia Pasifik secara umum dan China pada khususnya akan mendominasi penjualan sepeda motor listrik dengan merepresentasikan pertumbuhan hingga 95% angka penjualan motor listrik dalam enam tahun ke depan.

Menurut penelitian Pike Research salah satu faktor penting pendorong tumbuhnya industri sepeda motor listrik adalah jalur distribusi penjualan. Banyak produsen motor listrik yang mencari partner yang tepat untuk sejumlah negara untuk memasarkannya dan juga layanan purna jualnya.

Exora Receives Well Deserved Endorsement In Thailand

2010-02-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

Proton sales bookings in the Expo had as such beaten all Korean and continental brands in Thailand, positioning it as one of the strongest selling brands in the Expo within the ranks of the Japanese brands.

The Proton Exora, which made its debut in Thailand during the motor show, was the best selling Proton model securing a total of 825 bookings, which accounts for almost 60% of Proton’s 1,388 units sold during the Expo. The Proton Savvy was the next best-seller recording 19.5% of the total bookings over the event.

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