Ducati to launch superbikes next week

The Ferrari of bikes, Bologna (Italy) -based Ducati is expected to launch five superbikes "" motorcycles with engines of more than 800 cc "" in India on May 7.

The bikes will be imported as completely built units on which there is a 60 per cent import duty. Each bike will cost more than Rs 10 lakh.

Ducati's Global Chief Executive Gabriel Deltorchio will be flying to India on the day of the formal launch in Delhi.

Ducati already has a 50:50 joint venture with Kinetic Motors to manufacture auto components. It currently has a sole distributor in India based in Mumbai.

India's 7.2-million-strong bike market, which is also the world's second-largest two-wheeler market, has prompted leading bike-makers around the world to renew their focus on the Indian market.

These include the legendary Harley Davidson of the US, Triumph of the UK and Japanese majors like Honda and Kawasaki. Kawasaki sells its superbikes through Bajaj Auto, its motorcycle partner in India.

Though size and growth figures are not available for this nascent market, companies like Suzuki, which is launching the Hayabusa 1300 cc bike, and Honda, which is launching the CBR 1000 RR, are anticipating huge demand.

This despite the fact that German bike-maker BMW called off an arrangement, signed several years ago, with the Munjals to sell power bikes owing to negligible sales.

The Harley, meanwhile, is facing a roadblock in introducing its range of bikes here as the Indian government has refused to cut duties on the bike. The same government has, however, relaxed its emission norms on the bike and also allowed the company to set up a dealer network in the country.

Last year, media reports suggested that current leader in the performance bike segment, Bajaj Auto, was looking to buy out Ducati Motor Holding in an effort to build its own brand in the lucrative European market.

The Pune-based company, however, later bought a near-controlling stake in Austrian bike company KTM.