About Timor Putra Nasional
PT Timor Putra Nasional (TPN), commonly known as Timor, was an Indonesian automobile manufacturer operating between 1996 and 2000 originally formed by businessman Tommy Suharto. The company was created as a response to a presidential instruction (Inpres, Instruksi Presiden) regarding the development of the national car industry. The Indonesian government then appointed TPN as a sole 'national car pioneer'. Throughout its operations, TPN imported cars made by Kia Motors from South Korea, both through built-up import and knock-down kit import route. TPN had to end its operations after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled the national car program was incompatible with WTO rules. 'Timor' is a syllabic abbreviation of Tenaga/Teknologi Industri Mobil Rakyat ('People's Car Industrial Power/Technology'), although several sources said the Timor name was also chosen as a homage to the Timor island which was fully controlled by Indonesia as the East Timor occupation at the time was still ongoing, while 'Putra Nasional' means 'national son' or 'son of the nation'.
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