Yamaha YZF-R3 and MT-03 pricing revised to boost sales
Yamaha has slashed the prices of the YZF-R3 and MT-03 by up to Rs. 1.1 lakh. This price cut is done to undercut its competitors like the RS457, KTM 390 Duke, RC390 etc. The YZF-R3 and MT-03 were praised for their performance but slated for their previous pricing. It looks like Yamaha has listened to the fans and looks poised to capture the middleweight sports bike market.
Price Cut
The Yamaha YZF-R3 was priced at Rs. 4.65 lakhs (ex-showroom) and considered too optimistic for the segment. However, with the price cut, it is available for Rs. 3.60 lakhs (ex-showroom). The new price makes it cheaper than the Aprilia RS457 which is available for Rs. 4.20 lakhs (ex-showroom).
This positions the YZF-R3 closer to the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and KTM RC390 which are priced at Rs. 3.43 lakhs and Rs. 3.21 lakhs (ex-showroom) respectively. The MT-03 sees a larger price cut which makes it priced around Rs. 3.50 lakhs (ex-showroom). The MT-03 will compete with the street-naked sports bike like the 390 Duke and the upcoming Tuono 457.
The Reasons For Price Cut
Understandably, Yamaha would do this price cut as the YZF-R3 and MT-03 were launched around the same time as the Aprilia RS457. It was because of the Italian brand that Yamaha faced criticism for their overpriced offerings.
Yamaha’s pricing strategy seems quite ambitious, especially in a market like India, where consumers are highly value-conscious and price sensitivity plays a significant role in purchasing decisions. However, Yamaha India is selling the YZF-R3 and MT-03 as CBU imports which is why the price was initially high. The most likely reason that the bikes have got a slash in price is due to lower-than-expected sales.
The Yamaha R3 is the sportsbike with the fairing whereas the Yamaha MT-03 is a street naked powered by the same 321cc twin-cylinder engine producing 41 HP and 29.5 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed transmission and is revered for its smooth power delivery and the chassis-engine combination.
