Surakarta Mayor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has — once again — named the locally assembled Esemka Rajawali sport utility vehicle (SUV) as his official vehicle.
The announcement followed the thumbs-up given to the vehicle after it completed emissions tests at
the Propulsion and Motor Thermodynamic Center (BTMP) in Serpong, South Tangerang.
Jokowi was given the keys to the car at a ceremony at Surakarta City Hall in Central Java last week.
“We will do our best to get all the documents needed as soon as possible after the Idul Fitri celebration,” Jokowi said on Tuesday, referring to vehicle license and registration documents (STNK and BPKB) that can only be issued after the Transportation Ministry’s Land Transportation Directorate General issues a type test certificate (SUT) for the Esemka vehicle.
It was the second time that Jokowi announced he would make official use of the Esemka car, which was assembled by students from SMKN 2 Surakarta senior vocational high school.
Jokowi made a similar declaration earlier this year after receiving loan of the car from the school. He used the car to carry out his official duties for several days before it was sent to the BTMP for emissions tests, which it flunked.
The vehicle was then sent to the Solo Techno Park (STP) training center for modifications to pass the test.
After almost two months of evaluation at the BTMP, the vehicle finally cleared the Euro 2 standard emission test, with carbon monoxide emissions of 4 grams/kilometer, lower than the 5 grams/kilometer figure set by the Environment Ministry.
Its hydrocarbon and noxious oxide emissions were scored at 0.6 grams/kilometer, which was under the 0.7 grams/kilometer established by the ministry.
Passing the emissions test has cleared the way for mass production of the Esemka.
STP service and development director Gampang Sarwono said that initial production of Esemka would be done at the park.
Three additional buildings would be developed at the complex to host an assembly line, a finishing line and a quality control line, according to Gampang.
“Initial production will start this year with between 10 and 50 units of the car,” he said.
Separately, Surakarta Deputy Mayor F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo said that the administration was preparing a business plan for mass producing the Esmeka, as well as making decisions on a management team and production sites for the project.
Thousands of small and medium enterprises will be involved in the production of the Esemka, especially to produce the 18,000 parts required by the vehicle, according to the plan.
Refrensi : www.thejakartapost.com
