New Bike Launches in India

Metro develops tubeless tyres for motorcycles with Continental

Metro Tyres develops and designed tubeless tyres for motorcycles with Continental AG of Germany in technical collaboration.  Metro tyres, initially will manufacture tyres from its state-of-the-art Ludhiana plant where it has invested Rs.30 Crore for upgradations and capacity expansion. Metro has earmarked another investment of Rs.50 Crore to be invested in the Manesar (Gurgoan) Plant for their tubeless tyre Venture.

Metro tyres are looking at OEMs and Export Markets for their tubeless tyres in the wake of the growing Indian Two-wheeler Industries, more in specific, the High End Motorcycles. Metro senses a huge demand for tubless motorcycle tyres here.

The overall 10-12 percent growth in motorcycle sales and around 29 percent growth in export sales are together paving way to create this demand for tubeless tyres. Metro supplies its tyres to Continental for the overseas market, while the domestic market already has the OEM development for the 250cc category bikes.

The company has capacity to produce 2 lakh motorcycle and two-three wheeler tyres and tubes per month, which will be escalated to 5 lakhs tyres and tubes per month post Manesar expansion. Metro is looking at a turnover of Rs.600 crore by 2012 and aims to be a 1,000 crore player in the next 4 years.

Jamming the brakes on all rumours doing the rounds about Yamaha joining hands with Mahindra 2-Wheelers

, the Japanese company released an official statement  which says, “Yamaha Motor denied media reports of its business partnership with Mahindra 2Wheelers and announced that it is committed to the Indian market and plans to make investments in capacity expansion as well as new product development.

Adding to the whole issue, India Yamaha Motor CEO & MD, Mr. Hiroyuki Suzuki said, “We are not looking for business partnership with any company. Our Mid-term plan is on track and we will be making sizeable investments for new product development, sales & service network strengthening and capacity expansion over the next few years.”

Guess that’s the end to a spicy buzz conjured by the rumour mills.

TVS Motor Company to expand its operations in Eastern India

The Commerce and Industry Minister, Government of West Bengal, Mr. Partha Chaterjee, today handed over to TVS Motor Company and Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing Company, the in-principle permission granted by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Limited for the demerger of the two wheeler business of Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing Company, into a separate company through the court process of demerger. After the demerger, TVS Motor Company will invest in this new venture subject to approval that may be required by law and Government Regulations.

TVS Motor Company, which had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing Company, West Bengal in 2008, will thereby take a larger role in the demerged company and facilitate stronger presence in the eastern region of the Indian market. It may be recalled that as per the MOU, which was signed in 2008, TVS Motor Company was to provide technical support for the manufacturing facility. In addition, TVS Motor Company was to train personnel as per the quality procedures and standards followed at its other assembly plants. The manufacturing facility was created in accordance with the MOU and commercial production commenced in September 2010.

TVS Motor Company will retain the existing staff and workers of Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing Company and it expects to manufacture initially around 1000 motorcycles per month. TVS Motor Company will also use this facility as a hub to service West Bengal and North East markets. TVS Motor Company currently has three world class manufacturing facilities within India in Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh to manufacture two and three wheelers.

Piaggio plans to redefine the scooter market in India with the new Vespa range

A few months back, Bike India broke the news of Italian two-wheeler conglomerate Piaggio relaunching the Vespa brand in India. And now, reports of sightings around the Piaggio plant in Pune suggests that the first scooter from the iconic Vespa stable to be launched in India will be the LX 125.

From its markedly retro design to the styling of its headlamps and horns, the LX 125 scooter bears all the characteristic Vespa design cues. Unlike most Indian scooters, but in keeping with the international Vespa tradition, there is no spare wheel at the back, just a minimalistic chrome grab rail instead. According to our sources, alloy wheels (both five and three spoked) and disc brakes are available, although it is not clear whether if they will be a part of standard equipment.

In its second Indian outing, Piaggio plans to peg the Vespa brand as a lifestyle brand that will be targeted solely at the fashion-conscious urban customer. Bring it on, we say.