The Indonesian International Motor Show this year boasts the go green theme as it sets to promote sustainable green technology. But really?
Very true if you mean sustainable "green" revenue stream. How is it not so if you set a target of 2.7 trillion rupiahs worth of transaction during the 10 days exhibition. A 200 billion rupiahs increase from last year's IIMS. Not bad, huh. But where's the green technology in the automotive industry which this year's theme brags about?
Well, there's Toyota with its hybrid Prius; Suzuki Swift plug-in hybrid and Concept-G (the literally green car above); Mitsubishi i-MiEV; Honda CRZ, Brio, and Jazz/Fit EV (electric vehicle); and Chevrolet Volt to mention a few. Hardly new in concept. What's more important, I think, is how many of these environmental friendly cars are being produced and used.
According to the Worldwatch Institute, just slightly over half a million hybrid cars were produced in 2007 out of the 52.1 million production of cars in total the same year. A pathetic percentage of only 1%. In Indonesia's context, I can only imagine how many out of the 8.8 million cars in 2007 (BPS) were actually hybrid. Today? I don't know, hopefully more.
It's good to know, however, that many car manufacturers today -at least some of the big boys of the automotive industry- are beginning to show more interest in green cars. Let's just hope we see more of these cars on the streets (of Jakarta and other cities in the world) where it matters the most -not just only in air-conditioned motor shows with pretty young ladies standing nearby.
Oh wait, did I just say more cars on Jakarta streets?? Arrrgh...
Have you ever thought...
ReplyDeleteWell, this thought came to me while I was an intern in a Japanese Unit weeks ago.
Well... our life is surrounded by Japanese products in this country, but the population of the Japanese here... well, you can't barely see them crowding the malls, I presume.
Wondering if the Ninjitsu thing is somewhat more than just a tale :D
I see them Japanese in every Japanese cars I see, so they're practically every where. Gob bless the Japanese. And God bless Indonesia!
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