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Kawasaki motorcycle is looking forward to expanding its production base in India like the country is explored by manufacturers as a manufacturing and export hub. Bajaj Auto which was in alliance with the Kawasaki back in time exports its cultivation to Latin America. With the local assembly of its products, the Japanese giant is looking to serve its export markets like Africa and Latin America.
Expectations are the outcome from India based Kawasaki production facility could expand to 10,000 motorcycles annually. It could include the heavy localization of Ninja models. The Kawasaki commenced its operations in India in April 2017, post-separation from earlier co-partner in our biking industry, Bajaj Auto. Spread over 10,000 sqm production capability in Chakan, Maharashtra is taking care of Kawasaki motorcycles since 2017. Earlier than this, the green giant only assembled its bikes in the 250cc-650 category at the Bajaj plant was provided on a lease. The brand’s 1000cc Ninja bikes are still developed at the Maharashtra plant.
Read also: New Made in India Kawasaki Ninja 300 Launched at INR 2.98 lakh
A 200cc Kawasaki motorcycle is discussed for the first time by a Kawasaki official. We can’t say anything sure about the bike. If the company follows its nomenclature theory, it could be christened as Kawasaki Ninja 200. Behind the fairing, we can find a single cylinder 200cc engine which could be placed in order to keep the pricing of the bike low. The engine is likely to produce 24PS. While, in its segment, the made-in-India Kawasaki Ninja 200 will go in competition with the likes of Bajaj Pulsar RS 200 and KTM RC 200.
Other than the Ninja 200, Kawasaki is aimed to increase the sales of premium bikes in India with forecasts putting brand’s market share at 30 per cent YoY. Also, the expansion of Kawasaki only dealerships to 30 by 2020, is the part of the brand’s future plans.
In terms of sales, the brand is witnessing a hike as in 2016 it was 1,400 units. Post-separation with Bajaj Auto in April 2017, the company managed to sell 1,500 units till January 2018. Moreover, the company is targeting the 5K units (brand’s China sales) sales by the end of 2020.
The head of Kawasaki motorcycles and engines division, Kazuo Ota has confirmed the scope and demand of bikes around 200cc alongside large bikes in India. And it's sure, such models will hit the production line soon. However, the company is oriented now on stabilizing localization setup in the country.
Check out the prices of Kawasaki models being assembled locally. The newly launched Kawasaki Ninja 300 experienced the reduction of INR 62,000 in pricing than earlier. Whereas, the Ninja ZX-10R that is being assembled prior to new Ninja 300 resulted in a cost reduction of INR 6 lakhs. With the demand of more than 30 per cent for exotic motorcycles, the Indian market is the single largest market.
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