Many factories in Indonesia assemble foreign-brand cars, mostly from South Korea and Japan. Far fewer local brands exist, but they still exist. Some of them have already stopped operating, and those that remain have very low production capacity. As a result, most Indonesians prefer to drive foreign cars. The following are the main representatives of the local car industry.
Fin Komodo
The company PT Fin Komodo Teknologi is named after the Komodo monitor lizard, found on the island of Java. The company is headquartered on this island, and the word “Fin” stands for “Formulasi Indonesia,” suggesting Fin Komodo is an exclusively Indonesian product.
The brand is recognizable by its logo, which features an asymmetrical orange quadrilateral. The geometric figure isn’t solid; it is divided into two parts by the interconnected letters “f,” “i,” and “n.” The inscription uses white lines of equal thickness, giving it a simplified labyrinth look. The futuristic-style font is difficult to read but gives the text an original feel.
Marlip
Indonesian company Marlip Indo Mandiri manufactures electric minibusses, electric commuter cars, golf carts, and other compact vehicles. From 2005 to 2012, it produced micro-cars under the Marlip brand, which were also powered by electric motors. Each brand’s cars had a circular logo with an abstract design. In the lower half of the circle, two triangles appeared. They were arranged symmetrically, one on the right and one on the left. They were separated by space. At the top, two vertical lines were drawn parallel to the triangles’ edges. Silver stripes and an outer rim of the same color contrasted with the dark gray base.
Perkasa
From 1999 to 2004, PT Wahana Perkasa Auto Jaya produced commercial vehicles under the Perkasa brand. This family included buses and trucks used by the Indonesian army and police. About a hundred buses were sold to Saudi Arabia, so the brand’s logo was known in the homeland and at least one other country. It consisted of geometric shapes. The base was a vertical white oval, outlined with a black stripe along the edge. Three gray parallelograms in the background were arranged in a staggered pattern.
Tucuxi
Another bright representative of the local car industry is Tucuxi, one of Indonesia’s few luxury cars. However, it exists only on paper: the development, started in 2004 under the direction of high-ranking official Dahlan Iskan, ended with a prototype. The car failed the tests, so it was never produced or exported. It is known that Dahlan Iskan was personally involved in an accident with the Tucuxi electric car during its testing. The project has no official logo, as it was never completed. Faulty brakes are to blame.
Esemka
Esemka is the brand under which PT Solo Manufaktur Kreasi sells its cars. It was named after the Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan (SMK), as students from this institution have contributed greatly to the development of Indonesia’s automotive industry.
The brand logo symbolizes technological progress, featuring a gear and two ellipses that resemble machine parts. The silver gradient reinforces the association, as it resembles a metallic shine. The dark and light highlights give the image a sense of volume. At the same time, the rings’ composition resembles a human eye, with the gear as the iris and the small ellipse as the pupil. So, there is another hidden meaning here: a look into the future.
Timor
Timor, also known as TPN (short for PT Timor Putra Nasional), was founded in 1996, when the Indonesian president called for the development of a domestic automobile industry. But it didn’t last long: it ceased operations in 2000 after protests over unfair market sharing. Legally, the manufacturer still exists, as it has not gone bankrupt or been liquidated.
The brand’s logo bears its name. Some believe the word “Timor” derives from the phrase “Tenaga/Teknologi Industri Mobil Mobil Rakyat.” Others say it is simply a tribute to the island of the same name. The inscription is in a serif font similar to Baskerville FS ExtraBold from FontSite Inc. or its free analog, Baskervald ADF Std Heavy Normal from Arkandis Digital Foundry. Above the text is a stylized letter “T” shaped like a horseshoe. It is formed by three figures resembling car parts. All elements and letters are dark blue; the background is white.
Tawon
Another Indonesian brand that has left the market is Tawon. Its cars went on sale in 2010 and were initially used as public transportation in villages. Then the manufacturer PT Super Gasindo Jaya expanded its lineup to include city cars and pickup trucks. Among Indonesians, the name Tawon was associated with great speed, as it translates to “wasp.” It also hinted at the mini cars’ compact size. In 2017, the brand went bankrupt. Its logo is also a thing of the past, and almost no one remembers what it looked like.