200 Superbikes Sold In 2008
During the calendar year 2008, nearly 200 superbikes have been sold in India, the first year since the launch of the superbikes by Ducati, Suzuki and Yamaha. Of the total units sold, Yamaha accounts for 107 units, while Ducati sold over 50 units. All the bikes were imported as CBU.
Discerning the growing popularity of superbikes in India, numerous multinational two-wheeler companies like Yamaha, Suzuki Motor Corp., Kawasaki and Ducati are upping its ante on this segment by lining up a series of launches this year. Even Honda recently launched its superbikes - the CBR 1000RR and CB1000R. This year 400-450 superbikes are expected to be sold.
Suzuki has sold 26 and 29 units of Hayabusa and Intruder (priced at Rs 12.5 lakh each) since its launch in November last year. Yamaha managed to sell 107 units of R1 and MTO1 (Rs 10.5 lakh each) in 2008 as against the target of 50-60 bikes. The company is expecting 100% growth in sales of R1 and MT 01 in 2009 at 107 units.
According to industry analysts, top-end high performance bikes constitute a super niche segment that is neither dependent too much on finance and nor much impacted by the economic slowdown. Hence, the demand for such bikes is growing in India even when other two-wheeler segments are witnessing a slowdown. In recent years, Pune-based Kinetic Motors which first took the lead with the limited launch of the 250cc, v-twin-powered Hyosung Comet in India back in 2005.
[Via: Motorbeam]
TVS Motor sales in March 2009
TVS Motor Company has reported a 4% increase in its sales for March this year, at 121,988 units, as against 117,045 units sold in March 2008. According to TVS, this increase in sales was primarily because of its scooters, which logged an impressive 44% growth in sales, at 22,975 units, as against 15,942 units in March last year.
TVS' motorcycle sales in March 2009 actually declined by 8.46%, at 55,754 units, as compared to 60,908 units in March 2008. Exports during March this year stood at 16,340 units as against 13,070 units in March last year - an increase of 25%.
Also, according to a press release issued by TVS Motors, the company's Chairman and MD, Venu Srinivasan has been elected President of CII for 2009-10. Srinivasan, who succeeds ICICI Bank Chairman K V Kamath, has earlier been President of ARAI and SIAM.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
Yamaha plans to launch FZ1 in India
Yamaha commenced the big bike era in India with the launch of the YZF-R1 and the MT-01 last year. Suzuki, Ducati and Honda have also joined the bandwagon in recent times. With more and more multi-cylinder, high capacity bikes coming into the country, the competition has started to heat up. However, sustaining this contest is going to be tough for manufacturers since there are very few potential buyers for premium bikes in India.
Yamaha India now have some interesting plans to tackle this situation. Our sources tell us that the company has sent the FZ1 for homologation in India. We also hear that the Semi-Knocked Down kit or the SKD route is being considered for the bike. This will put the FZ1 in a much lesser price bracket - less than even the Honda CB1000R which is the cheapest imported litre-class bike currently available here.
The FZ1 is powered by a 998cc liquid-cooled engine producing a maximum power of 150PS at 11000rpm. The bike will either sport a quarter fairing or will be a completely naked one. This Yamaha can prove to be the perfect option for the city as well as for those long Sunday morning rides. With the FZ1 entering the market and at a much affordable price, the war of the Japs is definitely going to be a level higher now.
[Via: BIKE]
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