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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

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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...

Noor

News approved

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princesirohi

its a good thing that BMW is thinking to launch sub 1000 CC bikes in india, but i don't agree that to maintain exclusivity, they have to deliberately - not launch smaller capacity bikes and must keep the cost too high.

if the market demands a good performing 150 CC, 250 CC, 400 CC or 650 CC bike- there should not be any reason - not to do so, ofcourse they can still maintain exclusivity, by giving premium features, nice handling and all the electronic gimmickery.

if they really have the technical know how, c'mon - go ahead and create a 250 CC bike that beats the shit out of other 650 CC bikes in terms of performance, handling, comfort and features and yet returns decent fuel economy. then command a price premium - and sell it at 5 lakhs or so.

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bluevolt

The word in the market is the sub-800 cc rule for imports might go away soon - BMW's announcement here validates that! The F800GS and F650GS are 798 cc.

saipranav

I guess you are right...
There was news that ducati is gonna launch 795 for a price tag of around 5 lacs...

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Brat

If this is news, i hope no one wakes me up.

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pulsar_flame

awesome piece of news so if the 800cc import rule is broken then can we expect r6 and zx 6r here ?

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j4zb4

But again the major long tooth is the import duty... any news on the progress or implementation of the EU and Japan FTA's...?


The news around is for the 695...

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bluevolt

**thread bump up**

Does anyone have an idea of what the new lineup will be come January 2012? Any concrete info on Triumph model launch would be cool too!

chicmagnet

Wish a BMW could be launched for less than 3 lacs . If only wishes could come true!