Jakarta – Sales of new vehicles in Indonesia jumped 41% on year in May to 39,955 from 28,272 in the same month a year ago, the Indonesian car assemblers' association Gaikindo said Monday.

It added that new vehicle sales in the country rose 0.3% in May from 39,841 in April. Falling interest rates in Indonesia have helped motor vehicle sales in the country.

The benchmark one-month weighted average rate of Sertifikat Bank Indonesia notes has fallen to its current 7.33% from nearly 12% in early January 2003.

Gaikindo said market leader PT Astra International sold 22,347 vehicles, including exports, in May. Its sales rose 46% from 15,302 in the same month a year ago, and nearly 1% from 22,127 in April.