Bajaj launches KTM’s Duke 200 bike in India

Austrian motorcycle maker KTM has said it expects India to become No 1 market for its bikes after overtaking United States by the next year. The firm rode into India, the second largest motorcycle market after China with the launch its bike ‘Duke 200’ on Tuesday.“India will become the biggest market for KTM in 2013 by volumes. In India, we will launch our models above 200 cc engine capacity. We will launch the Duke 350 model next year,” said Hubert Trunkenpolz, member of management board and chief sales officer, KTM Power Sports. “However, we do not plan to launch models below 200 cc due to competition,” he added.

KTM, Europe’s second largest motorcycle maker, sold 81,200 units globally in 2011 with 18,000 units in US as its lead market, France with 8,500 and Germany with 7,800 units. “Bajaj (Auto) expects to sell 2,000 to 3,000 KTM bikes every month in India (24,000-36,000 yearly),” Trunkenpolz said. The company plans to sell 2,00,000 units globally by 2015, of which the major share is expected to come from India.

Bajaj Auto that owns 39.26 per cent stake in KTM will sell the model alongside Ninja super bikes from Bajaj’s premium pro-biking showrooms across the country. Bajaj’s premium motorcycles such as Pulsar and Avenger will thus stop being sold through the pro-biking network set up by Bajaj Auto in 2003. With the launch of KTM, the 34 pro-biking showrooms across the country will now be renamed as KTM stores and will also sell KTM’s merchandise and accessories.

“What Pulsar was in 2001, KTM is today. Bajaj and KTM will fill most requirements of motorcyclists,” said Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto. “Our own conviction about KTM is that it is a matter of time that it becomes the world’s largest selling premium motorcycle brand,” Bajaj added. The off-road Duke 200 priced at Rs 1,17,500 (ex-showroom, New Delhi), falls into a niche segment between Japanese sport bikes such as 150 cc Yamaha R15 (Rs 1.07 lakh) and Honda’s 250 cc CBR 250R (Rs 1.43 lakh). The Duke has a rigid suspension and will appeal to riders that are ‘young at heart’, according to the company. However, company officials refused to reveal the mileage of the Duke 200.

Trunkenpolz said Bajaj and KTM would together develop joint motorcycle platforms for future models. KTM plans to double exports from India to about 22,000 units this year with new markets including Indonesia, Philippines and Brazil. It exported 11,000 motorcycles in 2011 including Duke 125 and Duke 200 models produced at Chakan plant. KTM plans to launch six to seven new models in next two years, globally.

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Source:www.mydigitalfc.com 24/1/2012

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