Yamaha eyes 30% sales growth in 2015

Leading two-wheeler manufacturer Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd is eyeing 30 per cent growth in 2015 calendar year in sales of motor bikes and scooters.

The company has set a target of selling 850,000 two-wheeler units in the country in 2015, up from 600,000 units sold last year.

"Yamaha is growing at the rate of 20-25 per cent every year, higher than the industry average. Last year, we clocked a growth of 23 per cent. This year, we are targeting to grow at the rate of 30 per cent. In 2015, we are eyeing sales of 850,000 units and subsequently raise it to one million units in 2016," said Ravinder Singh, vice president (strategy & planning) of the company.

Singh said, Yamaha has share of 23 per cent in the deluxe bike segment and seven per cent share in scooter sales. The company is selling around 15,000 scooter units every month.

Asked if Yamaha would introduce new models for the India market, he said, "All two-wheeler manufacturers are introducing new models from time to time. Yamaha will also come up with new models as and when required. The models would be introduced depending on suitability of the market.

On the company's upcoming manufacturing plant at Chennai, he said, the plant would be inaugurated soon. India Yamaha is investing Rs 1,500 crore on the facility that would have a capacity of 1.8 million units a year.

The company on Tuesday opened a training school within the premises of Gram Tarang Employability Training Services Pvt Ltd (GTET), a social entrepreneurial outreach of Centurion University at Jatani, near here.

The Gram Tarang -Yamaha Training School aims to create a 'Centre of Excellence' where the youth will receive two-wheeler technical training that will enable them to become expert two-wheeler technicians. Thereafter, they could be employed gainfully at Yamaha dealerships and become productive members of the society.

The training school was inaugurated by Masaki Asano, managing director, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd.

"This partnership is meant to address this very concern by providing a platform to the economically weaker and unemployed youth to obtain a job oriented technical training in two-wheeler repair and servicing that meets industry standards. Upon successful completion of the course, the students will receive a certification by Yamaha Technical Academy at Silver level and Gram Tarang Employability Training Services Pvt Ltd, Bhubaneswar that will help them to find a suitable employment", a company release said quoting the managing director.

This is the seventh training school of Yamaha in the country and third in eastern India. Yamaha plans to have 20 such schools across the country. To start with, the training school will have 60 people in two batches.