In its bid to regain customer confidence and regain its glory, Yamaha came out with a great announcement. RX100 and RD350 owners can jump to the skies, as Yamaha itself plans to sell spare parts for its older yet cult bikes like RX 100 and RD 350. “We are talking to the vendors for providing spare parts even for our older bikes, like RX 100 and RD 350, to win back the confidence of our customers,” India Yamaha Motor CEO and Managing Director Yukimine Tsuji said.

India as a hub:

Yamaha also plans to use India as it production hub for engines and bikes. Yamaha plans to export the bikes and engines to US and Japan. Yamaha will be investing around Rs 240 crore in 2010-11 on developing more than two new India specific models. “India can be an export hub for our two legendary models - FZ16 and R15. Also we export bike engines in substantial amount to our other global operations,” Tsuji said. “Japan and the US has been asking for our bikes and are interested in importing from India,” he added. Currently India Yamaha export engines and bikes to various global operations of Yamaha, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Latin American countries and is the second biggest exporter after China.

No to 100cc segment

Yamaha once again reiterated its stand not to compete in the entry level 100cc segment which accounts for more than half of total Indian two wheeler sales. “We will build customer confidence through our existing models in the 150 cc and above category. Once we have established our basic business through higher volumes in the premium category and sales network, we will then be prepared to challenge this market (entry level),”Tsuji said.