Yamaha set to expand in B, C category towns

India Yamaha Motor aims to achieve a 10 per cent share of the domestic two-wheeler market over the next four years and launch a range of new bike models and introduce the scooter in the Indian market by next year. The company is planning to extend its network in B and C category towns.

“We are going to launch top-end products in India, as we are doing quite well in the deluxe segment — with a 14 per cent market share in the segment. Now, we can see there is a demand for such products in B and C category towns also, we are focusing on extending our reach there,” Hiroyuki Suzuki, chief executive and managing director, India Yamaha Motor, said.

Speaking on Yamaha's venture into the scooter segment, he said, “Work is on for this. We will be launching the product in the near future.” However, according to a company official it may introduce the scooter by next year only. The scooter will be manufactured locally here, while the designing part will be done by its parent company Yamaha Motor Corporation in Japan.

The company sold about 480,000 units last year with exports accounting for 130,000 units. In 2011, the company is targeting total sales of 500,000 units, out of which 350,000 will be in the domestic market and 130,000 for exports. The company aims to have a 10 per cent share of the domestic two-wheeler market taking the annual sales over a million units in the next four years, Suzuki said. However, on the company's third plant to expand the manufacturing capacity, he said, “We are having two plants with combined capacity of 600,000 motorcycles a year and it can be expanded to one million units. We will go ahead with the third plant when our sales reach near the one million mark.”