German luxury carmaker, BMW is planning again to enter the India’s high-end motorcycle market after 13years of its abortive attempt to enter the Indian market through a joint venture with the Hero Group.

A top BMW India official said that, “the company is studying India’s high-end and premium motorcycle market to introduce its Motorrad range of super bikes in India”. Peter Kronschnabl, president, BMW India told “Our people from BMW Motorcycle are having a look at the market.

They are also in discussion with us for feedback on the matter. As soon as we see potential for a viable market entry for sustainable growth, we would take that into consideration”. Another BMW official said that the bikes of the Motorrad range will cost more than Rs 10 lakh in India.

In India, the premium bike market is very small almost less than 500 units a year but is good in terms of both growth prospects as well as branding opportunity. BMW launched its F650 model in collaboration with Hero but the venture did not work and earlier outing was unsuccessful in India this time probably the company may sell more bikes.

The presence of top superbike models such as the Suzuki Hayabusa or the Honda 1000RR Fireblade and CBR 1000R and Yamaha’s MT01 and R1 has grown the market and increased the appetite for Rs 10 lakh-plus bikes, says the Auto analysts. Bajaj too has plans to launch big bikes from KTM and Kawasaki stables in the near future.

However it was clarified by the BMW officials that the plans are not for the short-term and it could take 1-2 years before anything is finalized. Since 1923, the German company used the brand BMW Motorrad.

All over the world, BMW Motorrad’s G series, F series, R series and K series are available. These bikes are designed for off road, sport and touring purposes and ranges from 450 cc capacity to 1300 cc capacity.

Keeping aside the small market for the high-end bikes, people interest in the motorcycles as a lifestyle product is increasing. Just in last six months, Suzuki sold 93 bikes while Yamaha sold 94 units of the R1 and MT 01 in the Jan-Dec 2008 period.

Atul Gupta, vice-president, marketing and sales Suzuki Motorcycle India said that, “We are regularly importing containers of our high-end bike Hayabusa and Intruder. Each container has up to 15 bikes and we are ordering new containers of bikes ever 1-2 months”. He added, the company hopes to sell 100 more high-end bikes costing up to Rs 12.5 lakh by the end of current fiscal.

Best Selling Bike Models: Bajaj | Hero | Hero Honda | Honda | Indus | Kinetic | Royal Enfield | Suzuki | TVS | Yamaha

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BMW Motorcycles: The Evolution of Excellence

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 22 July, 2009 11:10:47 AM IST #