Suzuki Motorcycle to export 10% of production from next fiscal

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of Japanese two-wheeler maker Suzuki Motor Corporation, is aiming at taking its exports to 10 per cent of its production in India from next year, according to executive vice president Atul Gupta.

The company currently exports 2,000 units of two-wheelers to Latin America, Nepal and Bangladesh per month. SMIPL has an installed capacity of 540,000 units at its Gurgaon plant. While it sold 400,000 units last year, it is targeting to sell 500,000 units this financial year, he told mediapersons.

Launching GIXXER, a premium above-150-cc street sports bike in the Hyderabad market on Wednesday, Gupta said the close to 80,000-unit-per month 150-cc bike market in India was registering a steady growth of 11 per cent and hence the company was focusing on strengthening its portfolio in the segment.

Stating that the company currently commands a three per cent share of the overall two-wheeler market in India (11 per cent in scooters and one per cent in motorcycles), he said SMIPL was hopeful of taking this to five per cent in the next six to 12 months.

“New product line ups and continuous expansion of distribution network will steer our market share to five per cent and beyond,” Gupta said, adding the company would scale up its nationwide touch points from the present 630 to over 1,000 by March 2015.

“We are serious and committed to the Indian market and SMIPL will launch new products in the motorcycle segment to align with the industry,” he said.

Suzuki’s flagship 155-cc motorcycle GIXXER is powered by a four-stroke, single-cylinder engine and a five-speed gearbox. The bike is priced at Rs 74,552 (ex-showroom, Hyderabad).