Nusantara (bus company)

PO Nusantara was founded by Jonatan Budianto in Kudus Regency, Central Java, in 1968. In its early days, the land transportation industry was still very limited, so Jonatan's move to establish a bus company could be said to be quite visionary. Nusantara began its operations with just two former Indonesian Navy buses, branded GAZ, made in the Soviet Union in 1965. These vehicles became the foundation for PO Nusantara's long journey in serving public mobility, especially in the Central Java region.^[1]

Four years into operation, in the early 1970s, PO Nusantara began to show growth by expanding its fleet. The company imported five used ZIEL buses from the Indonesian Air Force, manufactured in 1962. This fleet expansion signified growing public confidence in Nusantara's services. During the same period, the availability of new buses in Indonesia was still very limited, making the use of ex-military vehicles a common solution for bus companies. This move strengthened Nusantara's position as a transportation service provider that continues to adapt to the constraints of the times.^[1]

In 1970, Nusantara began assembling buses independently, utilizing Thames-branded chassis from the United Kingdom and body still made of wood. This practice reflected the company's growing creativity and technical capabilities. Wooden bodies were common at the time, as metal body technology was not yet widely developed in Indonesia. However, this changed in 1975, when steel was introduced as the new standard for bus body construction. Nusantara also imported Ford-branded buses from the United States that already used steel bodies, marking a significant leap in the safety and comfort aspects of their fleet.^[1]

Entering the late 1970s, the development of the automotive world in Indonesia began to show rapid progress. In response, PT Nusantara introduced the use of front-engined Daimler Truck buses of the OF series in 1977. This fleet remained in use until 1984 and served as the backbone of the company's operations for nearly a decade. As demands for efficiency and comfort increased, Nusantara then switched to using rear-engined Mercedes-Benz buses of the OH series. This change reflected the company's commitment to keeping abreast of developments in commercial vehicle technology. ^[1]

In terms of service routes, PT Nusantara initially concentrated on serving short routes in Central Java. The main routes served included Semarang, Kudus, Pati Regency, Rembang, and Lasem. This focus on regional routes enabled the company to build a strong customer base and understand the characteristics of local passenger needs. Consistent and affordable service has made Nusantara widely known as one of the mainstay modes of transportation for the people of the northern coast of Central Java. ^[2]

Since the 1990s, in line with increasing population mobility and internal company growth, PO Nusantara has begun expanding its service reach. The company is no longer limited to regional routes, but has begun expanding into major cities in Java. Nusantara began serving intercity routes to DKI Jakarta; Bandung, West Java; Semarang, Central Java; and Surabaya and Malang, East Java. This expansion marks Nusantara's transformation from a regional bus company to a respected intercity bus player on the island of Java. In addition, this PO is also developing a tourist bus business.^[2] Not only focusing on buses, Nusantara also develops supporting facilities for passengers by opening a restaurant called So Tasty, which functions as a stopover point and increases travel comfort.^[3]

One of the most phenomenal innovations in the history of PO Nusantara occurred in 2008 with the launch of a luxury tourist bus project called Omah Mlaku and Omah Mlayu, which means "walking house" and "running house" in Javanese. This bus was designed to revolutionize the standard of tourism transportation in Indonesia by presenting the concept of comfort like a five-star hotel living room. The interior is equipped with a leather sofa, electronic massage chair, 32-inch LCD television, and a mini pantry complete with various household appliances. Entertainment facilities such as karaoke and Wi-Fi are also embedded, while a special suspension system was developed to ensure a comfortable journey even over bumpy roads. With an investment of around Rp3 billion, Omah Mlaku and Omah Mlayu are positioned as premium travel experiences, not just a means of transportation.^[4][5][6]

As it develops, PO Nusantara is now divided into three legal entity, namely PT Nusantara Transindo and PT Perusahaan Otobis Nusantara which are managed by two of Jonatan Budianto's children: Handojo Jonatan Budianto^[4] and Christian Nathanael Budianto, as well as PT Harmoni Wisata Nusantara which is led by Harrijanto Gumuljo. In 2011, Nusantara also established its own bodywork company called PT Nusantara Gemilang, a collaboration with Gemilang Coachworks from Malaysia, with Christian Nathanael as the leader.^[3] This bodywork company became widely known after introducing tourism double decker bus in Jakarta in 2014 and received appreciation from the Deputy governor of Jakarta at that time, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. Even though it was later acquired by PT Mobil Anak Bangsa in 2019, Nusantara's footprint in the world of national bus transportation remains attached as a pioneer of innovation and sustainability.^[7][8]

As of 2023, PO Nusantara is known to operate around 75 buses that operate daily on various routes.^[9] In terms of chassis, PO Nusantara is known to have a very diverse collection of chassis, including chassis that are classified as rare and rarely used by other POs in Indonesia. A member of the Indonesian Bismania Forum, Dimas Raditya, said that Nusantara was once the bus company with the most use of Scania chassis, although there is no official record of the number of units. One that attracted attention was the presence of the Scania F250, which was used as a test sample for Scania's front-engine bus. Besides Scania, Nusantara also operates MAN R37 and RR4 chassis, Mercedes-Benz, as well as Volvo B12M and B7R, which emphasizes Nusantara's character as a PO that dares to experiment with various technical platforms.^[3] The chassis is then supported by tires produced by Michelin and Bridgestone, as well as bus units equipped with GPS.^[10]

Another notable feature is Nusantara's claim to be the only PO in Indonesia operating the Volvo B12M chassis. This chassis features a mid-engine configuration, unlike conventional front- or rear-engined buses. This layout allows for a more spacious and comfortable interior, so the buses assembled on the Volvo B12M chassis are designed to resemble a mobile home cabin. This concept provides an exclusive and unique travel experience for passengers, while also demonstrating Nusantara's focus on innovation and high-level comfort. ^[3]

In terms of bodywork, PO Nusantara relies on two types of bus bodies: those produced by Adi Putro and Nusantara Gemilang (now Mobil Anak Bangsa). Nusantara has a large collection of vintage Adi Putro Royal Coach and Jetbus bodies spanning generations, with the newest units using Jetbus3+ bodies on Mercedes-Benz chassis. Meanwhile, at Nusantara Gemilang, PO Nusantara uses buses with Cityliner bodies. Nusantara Gemilang's bodies are made from aluminum, unlike most bus body companies that use steel bodies. The base of these bus bodies is a Neoplan Starliner, resulting in a distinctive European bus feel. The Nusantara Gemilang bus fleet uses a very rare chassis for Indonesian buses, namely the 2004 Scania K124iB.^[11]

Nusantara is also known for its unusual and custom-made designs. Some of its fleets use Irizar bodies assembled by Adi Putro, as well as MTrans Coachwork Malaysia bodies, both of which are rarely used by other POs due to their custom nature.^[3] The uniqueness of Nusantara's bodywork became even more apparent during the company's 50th anniversary, when they launched a double-decker bus with the Conqueror brand made by Nusantara Gemilang in 2019. In 2021, an additional Conqueror unit was introduced. Both double-decker buses use MAN-produced chassis, while emphasizing Nusantara's consistency in combining premium chassis with exclusive bodywork as a characteristic of its fleet. ^[12]

Since its inception, PO Nusantara has made non-economy class intercity buses its main business line. This bus company serves routes to and from major cities such as Jakarta, Bandung, West Java, Semarang, Central Java, and Surabaya, East Java. This PO is known to serve long-distance routes that are in high demand by passengers, for example the Jepara-Bandung route which is available from Jepara Terminal to the agent in Bandung with executive class complete with AC, TV, and lunch and dinner services on the way.^[13][11][14]

In its services, PO Nusantara offers various ticket classes, such as Executive and Super Executive, with 2-2 or 2-1 seating configurations, allowing passengers to choose the comfort they need. Its bus fleet uses various chassis models, including those from Daimler Truck and Mercedes-Benz, and is equipped with amenities such as restrooms, TVs, charging sockets, pillows, and blankets for long journeys. As the holiday season or Eid homecoming approaches, fares and schedules may change, but Nusantara remains a popular choice for those traveling between major cities in Java.^[11][15]

Historically, PO Nusantara has expanded to serve intercity routes in Java since the 1990s, including long-haul routes such as Bandung–Jepara Regency, Kudus Regency–Jakarta, and routes to other cities outside Central Java, demonstrating its extensive route network and flexibility in serving long-distance land transportation needs. In addition to this main route, Nusantara also opens services in various other cities, indicating that its routes are not only focused on one corridor but cover many intercity hubs on the island of Java.^[11][16]

In addition to operating intercity and regional buses (AKAP), PO Nusantara also develops tourist bus and charter services managed through two entities: PT Nusantara Transindo, under the "Die 9. Symphonie" brand, and PT Harmoni Wisata Nusantara, whose fleet utilizes bus bodies manufactured by Nusantara Gemilang. These tourist bus services cater to a variety of travel needs, from family trips and corporate events to school field trips, with a fleet designed for comfortable short- and long-distance travel. Beyond regular tourist services, PO Nusantara also provides bus charter services for various special events, such as corporate events and specific operations. Thanks to the quality of its service and fleet, PO Nusantara buses are trusted and chartered by a number of large clients and partners, including Pertamina, Astra International, Lautan Motor, and various other corporations and institutions.^[17][10]