Tweet
BMW to launch under-1,000cc bikes by January 2012
BMW to launch under-1,000cc bikes by Jan
MUMBAI: The German auto major BMW, which entered the domestic market early this year with as many as six models in the two-wheeler segment, plans to launch under-1,000-cc bikes by January.
"We will launch bikes below 1,000 cc in the domestic market in January," Navnit Motors Managing Director Sharad Kachalia said.
BMW Motorrad, the superbikes division of the German luxury carmaker, does not have direct presence in the country. It is present through two dealers--Deutsche Motoren in Delhi and Navnit Motors in Mumbai- who import these superbikes as completely built units from Berlin.
BMW Motorrad entered the domestic market this January. According to Kachalia, the auto major is aiming to sell over 50 motorcycles by the end of this year. "We have already sold 39 bikes so far and our target is to sell over 50 bikes by December."
"The demand for superbikes is growing here and we want to tap the opportunity," Kachalia said.
BMW sells six 1000 cc plus models in the country --the R1200R, S1000RR, R1200GS, K1300, K1600GTL and the HP2. These models are priced at Rs 18 lakh onwards.
"All our models have a good demand, but our three models - the S1000 RR, R1200 GS, the K1600GTL--have better demand. Our all bikes are above 1,000 cc and in the price range Rs 18-25-lakh," he said.
BMW had earlier planned to piggy ride the Munjals-promoted Hero Motors with the launch of a mid-sized single cylinder motorcycle. However, despite a positive market study, the project was shelved as the company found the domestic superbikes to be too small at that time.
Source: BMW to launch under-1,000cc bikes by Jan - Economic Times
--
Guys, while it would be great seeing the F800 Series and some other bikes, you can safely assume that nothing new for India should be created in the premium segment in such a short span of time.
And referring to the last line, Mid Sized Single Cylinder bike is a superbike, is it? Classic 500 is a superbike? Either these journalists or these company personnel definitely need to upgrade their automobile vocabulary.
Personally, I don't wish to see BMW's Commuter bikes here. I mean, commuter by our Indian standards. When International Companies that have achieved a lot over the world come to India, they behave as if multicylinder bikes are Rocket Science for them.
A CBR 400RR or FZR 250 from the 1990's will suit this country so well, despite being a 4 cylinder each. Yet, BMW can only think single cylinder because that's what we have here.
They don't understand that its their brand name that's getting diluted. Go ahead, launch 150cc bikes with the BMW logo. A day will come when the same logo is on every 10th commuter you see on road...
Then, your premium S1000RR customers will feel what is best described as "the exact opposite of premium". And don't even talk about the BMW Car Customers who will see the logo on the bike of every poser who overtakes them without signal. Go ahead...
MUMBAI: The German auto major BMW, which entered the domestic market early this year with as many as six models in the two-wheeler segment, plans to launch under-1,000-cc bikes by January.
"We will launch bikes below 1,000 cc in the domestic market in January," Navnit Motors Managing Director Sharad Kachalia said.
BMW Motorrad, the superbikes division of the German luxury carmaker, does not have direct presence in the country. It is present through two dealers--Deutsche Motoren in Delhi and Navnit Motors in Mumbai- who import these superbikes as completely built units from Berlin.
BMW Motorrad entered the domestic market this January. According to Kachalia, the auto major is aiming to sell over 50 motorcycles by the end of this year. "We have already sold 39 bikes so far and our target is to sell over 50 bikes by December."
"The demand for superbikes is growing here and we want to tap the opportunity," Kachalia said.
BMW sells six 1000 cc plus models in the country --the R1200R, S1000RR, R1200GS, K1300, K1600GTL and the HP2. These models are priced at Rs 18 lakh onwards.
"All our models have a good demand, but our three models - the S1000 RR, R1200 GS, the K1600GTL--have better demand. Our all bikes are above 1,000 cc and in the price range Rs 18-25-lakh," he said.
BMW had earlier planned to piggy ride the Munjals-promoted Hero Motors with the launch of a mid-sized single cylinder motorcycle. However, despite a positive market study, the project was shelved as the company found the domestic superbikes to be too small at that time.
Source: BMW to launch under-1,000cc bikes by Jan - Economic Times
--
Guys, while it would be great seeing the F800 Series and some other bikes, you can safely assume that nothing new for India should be created in the premium segment in such a short span of time.
And referring to the last line, Mid Sized Single Cylinder bike is a superbike, is it? Classic 500 is a superbike? Either these journalists or these company personnel definitely need to upgrade their automobile vocabulary.
Personally, I don't wish to see BMW's Commuter bikes here. I mean, commuter by our Indian standards. When International Companies that have achieved a lot over the world come to India, they behave as if multicylinder bikes are Rocket Science for them.
A CBR 400RR or FZR 250 from the 1990's will suit this country so well, despite being a 4 cylinder each. Yet, BMW can only think single cylinder because that's what we have here.
They don't understand that its their brand name that's getting diluted. Go ahead, launch 150cc bikes with the BMW logo. A day will come when the same logo is on every 10th commuter you see on road...
Then, your premium S1000RR customers will feel what is best described as "the exact opposite of premium". And don't even talk about the BMW Car Customers who will see the logo on the bike of every poser who overtakes them without signal. Go ahead...
. If only wishes could come true!
Comment