New Bike Launches in India

Raise their stake to 47 per cent in the Austrian company

Bajaj Auto, one of India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturers, recently bought another 6.3 per cent stake in KTM of Austria, thereby raising their total stake to just over 47 per cent. The deal was made through Bajaj Auto International Holdings (BAIHBV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bajaj Auto based in the Netherlands.

Although Bajaj officials have confirmed the deal, no details have been divulged as yet.

It may be recalled that Bajaj Auto began investing in KTM in 2007 when the Indian company bought 14.5 per cent stake in the Austrian company and since then Bajaj have been consistently investing in KTM. Rajiv Bajaj said in a recent interview that the company had no intentions to become the controlling stake-holders in KTM. However, going by Bajaj’s constant investment in KTM, it seems that Bajaj might just end up being the controlling authority of KTM in the future.

EAS variants of F3 675 and Brutale 675 announced

Italian superbike makers, MV Agusta, have announced new variants of their two popular models – the F3 675 and Brutale 675 – with EAS (electronically assisted shift). This technique will enable the rider to shift gears quickly while they are still on gas and without clutch application.

These new variants will be sold in addition to the traditional mechanical gear-shift variants of the bikes.

Both these bikes are already a notch higher than their competitors in terms of technology with features such as a counter-rotating crankshaft and evolved electronic controls with MVICS (motor and vehicle integrated control system). Now with the introduction of EAS, both F3 and Brutale have gone a step closer to being the most advanced bikes in their class.

Suzuki to open a new manufacturing plant

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan is all set to build a new two wheeler plant at Rohtak in Haryana. The Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan (SMC) had set up SMIPL in 2004 for the manufacturing and sales of two wheelers. SMIPL started wheeling out two wheelers from 2006 from its Gurgaon plant in Haryana. SMIPL has plans to build an additional two wheeler and components plant. Planned production capacity of this plant is 5lac units, and the plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. If the two wheeler market in India expands, expansion of this SMIPL plant may also be on the cards. In SMIPL , at present 2 models of scooters and 2 models of motorcycles are being produced in the Gurgaon Plant and production achievement of year 2011 was 3.5 lakh which is up by 122% of the previous year.

Suzuki to open a new manufacturing plant

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan is all set to build a new two wheeler plant at Rohtak in Haryana. The Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan (SMC) had set up SMIPL in 2004 for the manufacturing and sales of two wheelers. SMIPL started wheeling out two wheelers from 2006 from its Gurgaon plant in Haryana. SMIPL has plans to build an additional two wheeler and components plant. Planned production capacity of this plant is 5lac units, and the plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. If the two wheeler market in India expands, expansion of this SMIPL plant may also be on the cards. In SMIPL , at present 2 models of scooters and 2 models of motorcycles are being produced in the Gurgaon Plant and production achievement of year 2011 was 3.5 lakh which is up by 122% of the previous year.

Audi to pay $1.12 billion for Ducati, including debt

Audi has agreed to buy Ducati from owners Investindustrial for about 860 million euros ($1.12 billion) including debt, sources familiar with the companies told news-agencies on Tuesday. The iconic Bolognese manufacturer’s total liabilities are less than 200 million euros according to Investindustrial, and the deal would value Ducati at about seven times last year’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, minus debt. Both the companies involved in the deal has declined to release specific details about the deal until the annual VW shareholders’ meeting scheduled for Thursday, 19th April.

Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech, who turned 75 on Tuesday, has long coveted the brand, publicly expressing interest in buying Ducati four years ago before eventually losing out to Investindustrial. The purchase will now make Ducati the 11th brand in VW’s portfolio, alongside such revered supercar marques as Lamborghini and Bugatti and heavy-duty truck manufacturers Scania AB and MAN SE.