The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (often referred to as Jokowi), has pointed out that Indonesia’s global competitiveness remains significantly lacking, given that the extent of the national toll road network only stretches to 2,800km.

During his tenure, Jokowi noted that a grand total of 2,040km of toll roads have been constructed, representing a substantial increase from the previous 780km.

This signifies that Indonesia possesses just 2,800km of toll roads. In contrast, China boasts a staggering 280,000km.

According to the nation’s leader, the length of Indonesia’s toll road network underscores a considerable competitiveness gap when compared to China.

For Sumatra Island, the government had laid out plans for constructing the Trans Sumatra Motorway (JTTS), which encompasses 2,800km in total, with 1,800km designated as the island’s primary backbone, as highlighted by Jokowi.

Jokowi cited insights from community and religious leaders in South Sumatra, who pointed out that the journey from Palembang to Lampung previously consumed 10-12 hours.

The highly anticipated season finale of the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring 2023, one of Germany’s most electrifying motorsport spectacles, served as the ideal stage for Bulldog Racing to introduce the new John Cooper Works logo in action. Against the backdrop of thrilling, rain-soaked racing action, the dynamic design of the logo brilliantly encapsulated the performance of John Cooper Works.

The fresh John Cooper Works logo epitomises the passion and the sporty essence of the brand. It is set to replace the former JCW logo on all models within the new Mini family, unveiled in September.

In the heart of the action, the Mini John Cooper Works Edition, featuring a 6-speed manual transmission and proudly displaying the starting number #616, delivered a commendable performance throughout the rain-soaked race. It secured a respectable 53rd place out of the 158 cars that initiated the race, completing 13 laps. In the category of production-based cars with a displacement of 1,600 to 2,000 cc and turbochargers, the black Mini John Cooper Works Edition soared to 13th place among the 23 cars that commenced the race.

Behind the wheels were Sebastian Sauerbrei (GER) and Friedhelm Thelen (GER). Sebastian Sauerbrei achieved his personal best placement in a 24-hour race this year, steering this exact car. Friedhelm Thelen, a Nürburgring expert and the team leader of Bulldog Racing, added his expertise to the thrilling event. The Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring 2023 showcased the seamless blend of motorsport and the captivating unveiling of the new John Cooper Works logo, celebrating the enduring legacy of John Cooper Works and Mini’s racing DNA.

Ford, along with several other automakers, has made significant investments, totalling billions of dollars, in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Nevertheless, the transition to electric vehicles has encountered unexpected hurdles, with EV sales showing a slowdown. In response, Ford has been compelled to reduce prices and offer discounts on previously sought-after models like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning in an effort to attract buyers.