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Austria-based KTM Sportmotorcycles AG on Wednesday said it plans to expand its manufacturing capacity in India to one lakh units by 2016 from 30,000 now, while the company is preparing for a major sales push and the launch of the Husqvarna bike in the country.
The sports motorcycle maker, which sold 7,500 units in India last year, aims to sell around 11,000 bikes this financial year.
KTM, which has a joint venture with Bajaj Auto Ltd, makes three motorcycles – Duke 125, Duke 200 and Duke 390 — at the latter’s Chakan plant in Pune. While the Duke 200 and the 390 are sold in India priced at Rs 1.50 lakh and 2.04 lakh, respectively, (on-road, Delhi), the Duke 125 is only for exports.
“We have a small capacity right now at Chakan, but we will expand that in the next three years, with the new models coming in,” Stefan Pierer, CEO, told reporters here.
He said the company will launch the Husqvarna motorcycles in India in two years. KTM will use the Chakan plant to roll out the bike.Earlier this year, KTM had acquired Husqvarna from Germany's BMW.
By 2014-end, KTM expects to sell five-six different models in India, and plans to launch the RC 390 next year and the Duke 690 by 2015, Pierer added.
Exports
The company exports to various countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America independently. Sales in Nepal are handled by Bajaj through its dealers there.
Amit Nandi, Vice-President-Probiking, Bajaj Auto, said: “Right now, we are selling both KTM and Kawasaki brands through 100 dealers, which will be expanded to 130 by the end of this financial year. We will now enter smaller towns and cities,” said Amit Nandi, Vice-President-Probiking, Bajaj Auto. “We exported around 25,000 KTM bikes last financial year and sold 7,500 in India. This year, our target is to achieve 50 per cent (around 11,250) more sales in India.”
>ronendrasingh.s@thehindu.co.in
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