Made in India Yamaha motorcycles will be driven on Japanese roads, which is a shot in the arm for the Indian two-wheeler manufacturers as they have come of age.
Close two three decades now having set up its footprint in the Indian soil, the Japanese two-wheeler major Yamaha is contemplating on exporting its products from India to its home turf.
Perhaps this is maiden initiative by any Indian two-wheeler firm exporting its motorcycles to Japan. India Yamaha Motors, the Indian arm of Japanese two-wheeler major is planning to ship its models such as Yamaha R15, a 150 cc sports motorbike. The initial shipment will consist of 300 motorcycles being produced at its factory located in Surajpur in Greater Noida. Depending on the demand of the Indian made motorcycles in Japan, the Indian firm would then think in terms of exporting another of its popular model in India, Yamaha FZ to its home market.
While corroborating the plan of India Yamaha to export its motorcycle to Japan, Hiroyuki Suzuki, MD, India Yamaha Motor, said: “The motorcycles manufactured in India, in fact, meet the advanced specification of developed markets and they are produced at a lower cost. What is more, we are despatching Yamaha R15 to Japan to test market them in the that marketplace and if the response is good, we might as well think of exporting other models to Japan and other advanced markets. Yhe Japanese market is known for racing motorbikes and 150cc motorcycles are an emerging segment for entry level races. Moreover, Yamaha R15 fits the bill perfectly as it is is hassle free to race and manoeuvre".
The Japanese market’s annual two wheeler sales is pegged in excess of 400,000 units, which is dominated by 50cc scooters, besides the big racing motorcycles. The price of Yamaha R15 works out roughly to Rs 1.15 lakh, nevertheless, exported vehicles would be priced at ¥3.42 lakh, which works out to Rs 2.45 lakh.
Two-wheeler exports
Exporting two-wheelers from India are not new for Indian manufacturers as many of them are already exporting their produce to Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Asian markets. For instance Bajaj Auto Limited and TVS Motor Co export its motorcycles to Latin America and Africa. As far as the developed market is concerned, only Eicher Motors export Royal Enfield, through its subsidiary, Enfield Motors to European market. India Yamaha will now be looking at tapping the European market, depending on the response the motorcycle elicits from the Japanese market. Japananese two-wheeler majors had contributed immensly in bring about the change in the Indian two-wheeler industry. Two wheeler manufacturers such as India Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki have either come on their own or having forged alliances with Indian firms, when the automobile sector was opened up in the early 1980s. The initiative by India Yamaha, if found successful, will certainly inspire other two-wheeler manufacturers from India to follow suit.
