BS Reporter / Mumbai/ Ahmedabad Sep 09, 2010, 00:57 IST
As Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL) plans to come up with more mass segment bikes by 2012, the company expects the share of rural market in company's total bike sales to rise upto 50 per cent. At present, bikes sold by the company in rural areas consitute 30 per cent of its total bike sales.
The company also aims to double its market share in the motorcycle segement to 10 per cent by 2012 on the back of new launches. Suzuki Motorcycle currently has bikes in the 150cc segment and has recently launched the 125cc Suzuki SlingShot.
"We plan to come up with more mass segment bikes and would launch a 100cc commuter bike for the rural and semi-urban markets within a year's time. Currently, our sales come mainly from the urban markets", said Anand Thakur,senior manager, sales, SMIPL.Suzuki’s current portfolio of both scooters and motorcycles includes Access 125, Suzuki GS150 R and high powered bikes like Hayabusa-GSX1300R, Intruder-M 1800R, GSX-R 1000 and Bandit 1250S.
With the launch of SlingShot, the company is aiming at a 10 per cent market share in the motorcycle segment in India by 2012. Suzuki has a 26 per cent market share in the scooter segment, with sale of 20,000 units per month and a less than 5 per cent market share in the motorbike segment. Suzuki has already invested Rs 400 crore to expand its production capacity that is slated to be doubled to 5,40,000 units per year. "We will invest another Rs 100 crore on ramping up production and new product development. Apart from the 100cc motorbike, we will also launch a new scooter model by 2012", Thakur explained. Suzuki expects to sell 2.5 lakh units this financial year as against 1.8 lakh units in the corresponding period last year. It has already sold around 1 lakh two-wheelers this year in the first five months between April to August.
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