Astra Expecting 50-Pct-Hike In 2012 Sales

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - PT Astra International Tbk. (ASII) expects its motorcycle and car sales to increase 50 to 51 percent  next year or above the 10 percent average.

Its president director, Prijono, said here on Wednesday he was optimistic the figures would be met due to strong consumption in the country this year which is recorded at around 60 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

He said sales of motor vehicles grew 10 percent to 8.3 million units this year.

Based on that "I am very optimistic sales will grow next year," he said on the sidelines of an Investor Summit.

He admitted that although there would be growth the company remained wary of the current crisis in Europe and the United States whose impact is predicted to be able to reach Indonesia next year.

"Although we are optimistic we remain wary of what is happening now in the US and Europe," he said.

Sales of Honda motorcycles in August 2011 reached 336,363 units, down from 350,669 units in the same period last year.

Sales of cars under Astra were recorded  at 39,259 units in August, slightly up fom 34,804 units in the same period last year.

Most of the cars sold in the period are of Toyota reaching 25,267 units followed by Daihatsu 11,132 units, Isuzu 2,646, UD Trucks 202 and Peugeot 12 units.

Sales of non-Astra motor vehicles meanwhile were dominated by Yamaha (284,719 units), Suzuki (47,618) and Kawasaki (9,075).

Sales of TVS motocycles meanwhile reached 1,252 and other makes 25.

ASII booked a net profit of Rp8.59 trillion in the first semester of 2011, up 33 percent from Rp6.44 trillion in the same period last year. Net profit per share rose from Rp1,591 to Rp2,121.(*)