Jokowi Inaugurates Esemka Car Factory In Boyolali In Today's History, September 6, 2019

President Joko Widodo tested Esemka's car in Boyolali Regency, Central Java on Friday (6/9/2019). (ANTARA/Agus Suparto)

JAKARTA History today, six years ago, September 6, 2019, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Esemka car factory in Boyolali, Central Java. The inauguration was considered as proof of Jokowi's seriousness in making Esemka a national car. Although many parties doubt it.

Previously, the presence of the Esemka car made by Sukiyat and the children of SMK Solo brought a stir. Jokowi immediately offered himself as an ambassador for the Esemka car. The car was not only carried by emission tests. The vehicle became a political tool.

During his time as Mayor of Solo in the 2005-2012 era, Jokowi was known to be pro-people. All kinds of progress from Solo residents are fully supported by him. Take for example when the owner of the Kiat Motorcycle workshop, Sukiyat accompanied SMK students to successfully build a car.

They also named the car Esemka. Jokowi was attracted. Jokowi immediately made the Esemka Rajawali R2 car as the official vehicle for the Mayor of Solo in 2012. This condition made Jokowi get a lot of camera attention.

Jokowi's name was raised nationally. Moreover, Jokowi has a desire to encourage Esemka to be mass marketed. At least in the future Esemka has the opportunity to become a national car. This condition made Jokowi bring Esemka's car from Solo to Tangerang for an emission test in 2012.

The media covering the show. Esemka may not pass the emission test. However, Esemka actually succeeded in becoming Jokowi's political vehicle. Esemka was able to increase Jokowi's popularity from Solo leaders to national leaders.

Jokowi was able to rise as Governor of DKI Jakarta. Jokowi was also able to win the position of President of Indonesia. As a result, Jokowi and Esemka became two things that could not be separated. Even though Esemka later became a supernatural car, it was almost invisible on the streets, except for the political year.

The term Esemka's car, recognized or not, has indeed become a campaign vehicle for the image of partiality that drove from Solo to Jakarta, from the local political stage to the national political arena. Successfully climbing the popularity of Esemka's car, the media began to open sites of Jokowi's kindness in ruling the city of Solo.

Mainly in two ways: controlling Street Vendors (PKL) which is carried out peacefully, without violence by the Solo local government and revitalizing traditional markets becomes cleaner and more friendly for small communities. Then the vocabulary of traditional markets' and fif feet went viral on social media and brought the image of Esemka's car rider gaining popularity among the lower middle class, "explained Dadang S. Anshori in the English book Regime: Language Mirror in Power (2020).

Jokowi is also angry that he is not serious about developing Esemka. He wants Esemka to be taken seriously in Indonesia. The evidence was carried out by inaugurating the Esemka factory in Boyolali on September 6, 2019.

The factory is managed by PT Solo Manufacturing Kreasi (SMK) which acts as their license holder. The factory stands on an area of 115 thousand square meters. The factory is also a place for Esemka's production from assembly, painting, to testing.

"Many have asked why I want to inaugurate this Esemka factory. Yes, because I want to support the development of the national automotive industry. Support local brands, support national brands. That's the only answer," said Jokowi as quoted by the Indonesian CNN page, September 6, 2019.