Suzuki plans Rs 150-cr expansion

Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), a subsidiary of Japanese company Suzuki Motor (SMC), plans to invest an additional Rs 150 crore in its operations by 2010. This will fund capacity expansion and new product launches for the Indian market.The company will ramp up its production to 2.5 lakh units a year from the current 1.75 lakh and will introduce two more bikes next year.

SMIPL vice-president (marketing & sales) Atul Gupta said: ?So far we have invested Rs 400 crore. We will be looking at an additional investment of Rs 150 crore by 2010 to expand our capacity. We will launch new bikes in different segments to diversify our portfolio.?

The company entered the competitive 150cc premium bike segment with the launch of GS 150R at Rs 59,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). Suzuki?s new bike, which will be available in the market only by January, will take on Hero Honda Hunk and CBZ, Bajaj Pulsar, TVS apache RTR, Honda Unicorn and Yamaha FZ16.

The all new bike has been inspired by Suzuki?s sports bikes such as GSR 400 and GSR 600 and has adopted several of their masculine styling cues. The company is also looking at leveraging Maruti Suzuki to develop products in India. ?We will not have our own R&D (for two-wheelers) but SMC is strengthening Maruti Suzuki?s R&D here and motorcycles will also be a part of it,? SMIPL joint-MD Katsumi Takata said.

?We have designed the bikes in the sporty style for youngsters and utility for commuters. It has wolf-eyed headlamps and a muscular fuel tank with wider seats for longer, comfortable ride. We are also introducing several industry features like engine RPM indicator and gear positioning indicator to attract customers moving up the value-chain from 125cc bikes,? said Mr Gupta.

Source:ET

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