Dongfeng Sokon's Indonesian joint venture, PT Sokonindo Automobile, began exporting vehicles to markets across this region this year from its plant in Cikande in Banten, 50km (30 miles) west of the capital city Jakarta.

Dongfeng Sokon is a Chinese joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and Chongqing Sokon Motor Group. So far this year the company has exported over 300 vehicles, including its SuperCab light truck and the Glory SUV, to regional markets including Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and even back to China.

The company said the SuperCab light truck was adapted specifically for Indonesia but it is now also in demand in mainland China and the Philippines. It is fitted with a 1.3-litre turbodiesel engine.

PT Sokonindo Automobile has spent US$150m on the plant which was completed at the end of 2017 with a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year.

In September the company signed an agreement with local vehicle distributor QSJ Motors Philippine to export the SuperCab to the Philippines with a view to exporting 3,000 units by the end of 2020.

Another Indonesian unit of a Chinese vehicle manufacturer, PT Wuling Indonesia, has also just begun exporting vehicles produced at its Cikarang plant in West Java to other markets in the ASEAN region, including Thailand.

The Wuling vehicles exported from Indonesia are badged Chevrolet, including the Almaz SUV which has been rebadged Chevrolet Captiva.

China's SAIC Motor owns 50.1% of PT Wuling Indonesia, while General Motors owns 44% of the company and Guangxi Automobile Group the remaining 5.9%.

The company's US$700m plant was completed in 2017 with a capacity to produce 12,000 vehicles per year, as well as key components which are manufactured on site and in an adjacent supplier park.

The plant currently makes the Confero compact MPV and the Almaz and Cortez SUVs.