New Bike Launches in India

The eight dealership of India, Bengal Harley-Davidson, is now officially open

A spanking new showroom at Rajarhat, en-route to Kolkata’s international airport, is the new pilgrim spot for Harley-Davidson aficionados of eastern India. Christened as Bengal Harley-Davidson, the inauguration saw Harley-Davidson owners from the region converging at the showroom. Managing Director of Harley-Davidson India, Anoop Prakash along with bike owners rode through the ‘City of Joy’ to make the presence felt. This strategic location of the showroom should open the floodgate for the thirsty bike enthusiasts also from the North East.

The Milwaukee based company already has dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Hyderabad.

Suzuki plans to make India an export hub

Suzuki Motorcycles India Private Limited recently announced its second plant which will come up in Rohtak, Haryana. The foundation stone laying ceremony was performed by Haryana chief minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This new plant will be finished by 2014 and will have an annual capacity of 500,000 units. Suzuki Motorcycles will be further expanding this plant depending on the growth of the Indian market.

Suzuki is also planning to use India as an export hub for its two-wheelers, especially the mass-segment commuters. SMIPL National Head-Marketing, Anu Anamika recently said at the launch of the Hayate mass-segment motorcycle “Yes, this is possible, but I cannot tell you which part of the country this would be located.” Exports to neighbouring countries have already commenced from the Gurgaon plant and this is proposed to be stepped up in future with exports to Southeast Asian countries, too.

The Gurgaon unit, on which a Rs.400-crore investment has been made since the company commenced operations at this unit in 2006, has an annual capacity of 3.6 lakh units (of scooters and motorcycles). This will be ramped up to 5.4 lakh units by 2013-14 when investment would increase to Rs.500 crore, according to Ms. Anamika.

Setting up a new two-wheeler factory in Tamil Nadu

India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Tamil Nadu approving the construction and operation of a new two-wheeler factory in the state. The new facility will join the company’s Surajpur (UP) and Faridabad (Haryana) factories to meet the rising demand for two-wheelers in India, where the new factory could also produce scooters, like the Ray which was displayed during the 2012 Auto Expo.

The new factory is to be constructed on a lot of approx. 440,000 sq.m. in an industrial park in Vallam Vadagal on the outskirts of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Plans call for the construction of a factory facility with a total floor space of approx. 114,000 m2 and is scheduled to begin in September 2012, with completion and start of operations scheduled for January 2014. The company aim to employ 1,800 people and have an annual two-wheeler production rate of 400,000 units at the start of operations. Production capacity will then be increased in stages to a level of 1.8 million units annually by 2018, at which time employment is expected to reach 6,500 people. The forecast for the total investment in the new factory and facilities is approx. Rs 1,500 crores over the next five years.

Gulf Oil strengthens its partnership with its brand ambassador, Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Gulf Oil (a Hinduja group company) and M. S. Dhoni recently announced a slew of new marketing initiatives as the brand celebrates its achievement of being India’s fastest growing brand in the lubricants sector for the year 2011-12 and also for last 2 years before that on a CAGR basis. The Gulf brand has grown consistently at a multiple of industry growth due to a consistent strategy, clear focus and aggressive ATL & BTL programmes fuelled by the association with teams in the IPL, Chennai Super Kings & MSD.

Mr. Sanjay Hinduja, Chairman, Gulf Oil International, and Mr. Ravi Chawla, President & CEO, Gulf Oil India along with MS Dhoni announced the launch of a range of limited edition ‘Signature MSD packs’ and two new advertising campaigns featuring MSD, today. These campaigns would be supported by new retail signages as well as new packaging featuring MSD. On this occasion, Mr. Sanjay Hinduja also announced that Gulf would be partnering the MSD Charitable Foundation to promote young talent who don’t get adequate opportunities, training and infrastructure and pursue their passion to become successful sportspersons. Gulf Oil will sponsor talent in this grass root initiative by providing scholarships through the MSD Charitable Foundation for select number of such sportspersons every year. Along with this, Gulf will play an integral part in organizing grass root level cricket tournaments that the MS Dhoni Charitable Foundation conducts across 15-18 cities 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.