It’s raining good news for bikers. KTM has organised a freewheeling and interactive session in Delhi today where both Rajiv Bajaj (MD, Bajaj Auto) and Stefan Pierer (CEO, KTM Sportmotorcycles) are present. At this event, Rajiv Bajaj has gifted cricketer Gautam Gambhir with a KTM Duke 390 special edition. The special edition gets a few PowerParts and new graphics (the graphics can be brought for Rs. 8000/- at any KTM store) but that’s not important, what is important is that the company has revealed its future plans.
KTM plans to launch the Duke 125 and Duke 690 in India in 2015. The Duke 125 is already being manufactured in India while the Duke 690 was expected after the arrival of the Duke 390. We were the first to break news about the company planning a launch of the 690 Duke in the domestic market and with the confirmation, it’s time to start saving. By locally manufacturing the Duke 690 in India, KTM is bound to get huge cost benefits due to the aggressive localisation Bajaj Auto is able to do.
However we are not quite sure how the Duke 125 will be positioned in India considering it is bound to become the most expensive motorcycle in the 125cc segment. KTM will also launch Husqvarna bikes in India and local production of these motorcycle will commence at Chakan in a couple of years. KTM is also considering heavy involvement in motor sports in India on similar lines as the Volkswagen Polo Cup. The next launch from the Austrian company is of the RC 200 and RC 390.
