Subaru goes big in Jakarta

Subaru shows off its new wares, including the first ASEAN built XV at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) currently being held at the Jakarta International Expo.

OneShift Editorial Team

03 Oct 2012

Singapore Subaru distributor Motor image’s parent company, Tan Chong also took the opportunity at the IIMS to announce an agreement to distribute Chinese brand Changan Automobile’s extensive range of right and left hand commercial and passenger vehicles in Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The joint venture company will operate as TC Changan through locally incorporated subsidiaries in each of the five countries.

Leading TC Changan in Singapore is Mr Glenn Tan, who also currently heads up the Nissan and Subaru distributorships in the Republic for the TCIL Group.

Announcing the new initiative, he said Singapore is acting as the Southeast Asia headquarters for TC Changan but the decision to launch vehicles in the local market will be made at a time when the COE situation has eased towards the end of next year.

“The partnership with Changan reflects our strategy to focus on the emerging markets of Asia, while leveraging the skills available in Singapore to support our colleagues in the region.”

Indonesia is the first country to kick start TC Changan’s series of launch plans in the five markets, with the Star Truck making its debut at the Indonesia International Motor Show on September 24. The Changan Star Truck Euro III in 1.0-litre and 1.3 litre models will be available in the Indonesia market while the Star Truck Euro IV variant will be sold in Thailand. The Changan Space Truck, which offers a larger cabin, will be available in the Thailand market from November 2012.

Changan’s new passenger vehicle, the 1.6-litre Eado, which was launched at the Beijing Motor Show in May this year, will make its appearance on the streets of Philippines and Vietnam next year.

Left-hand and right-hand drive models of the 1.3-litre, 7-seater Changan Honor - which combines the spaciousness and versatility of an MPV and the driving comfort of a sedan - will be launched in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in the first half of 2013.

Credits: Edited by Raymond Lai in Jakarta Photos by Subaru