Suzuki plans to boost production in India and will start export operations to emerging markets. Company to launch four new products – 2 scooters, 2 motorcycles.
Riding high on the positive response of the newly launched Gixxer 155, Suzuki Motorcycles India has laid out a new product strategy for the domestic market that will include launching four new products in the coming years including a 100cc mass market motorcycle. The Japanese manufacturer launched the Gixxer earlier this week priced at Rs. 72,199/- (ex-showroom, Delhi) and also shared its plans to make India the global manufacturing hub for motorcycles in the future.
Suzuki plans to export two-wheelers to markets like Latin America, Middle East and Africa, apart from neighbouring countries. On the sidelines of the Gixxer launch, the company stated that work has commenced on new two-wheelers at its headquarters in Japan and will include two new motorcycles and two scooters. The company with a minuscule 2 percent share in the Indian two-wheeler market and is looking forward to gain substantial sales with the advent of new products.
Suzuki sold 3.6 lakh units in the last fiscal, while the industry total was marked at 1.48 crore units. With Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India dominating the mass market segments, Suzuki has been at a distant spot in comparison. The company however has captured an 8 percent substantial share in the automatic scooter segment with the Access and Swish 125, and most recently also launched the Let’s 110cc scooter to further penetrate into the automatic scooter space.
However, motorcycles command over 70 percent of market share and Suzuki has had limited luck with its products. The Hayate 110 and GS150R both failed to impress the market, while the top-end Inazuma is still to kick start its innings in the two-wheeler space. Suzuki is betting big on the Gixxer to change its fortunes that will be competing against the Bajaj Pulsar 150, TVS Apache RTR 160, Honda CB Trigger, Yamaha FZ and the likes in the segment. Depending on the Gixxer’s success, the manufacturer could also launch a Gixxer based commuter derivative, while a Fazer rivalling half-faired version is also in the works.
