Japanese bike-maker Yamaha has been a strong brand in the Indian motorcycle segment. News has been going around for a while that Yamaha has been planning on launching a INR 30,000 bike. As per a latest update, Yamaha has began work on Project Indra (Innovative and New Development based on Responsible Analysis) that shall make this dream a reality. The low cost bike shall be launched for the Indian and African markets. At a later date the bike may also be launched in the ASEAN region and Latin America.
Yury Panteleev, Corporate Group Head of India Yamaha Motor, said to sources, “We are developing the India business aggressively not only for the local market but to support Yamaha operations across the world.” Presently Yamaha has about 37 vendors who export 130 parts worth Rs. 60 crore. By the end of 2016, with an inclusion of about 60 vendors and 300 parts, this amount is expected to increase to up to Rs. 360 crores.
The vendors shall be trained by Yamaha teams from India and Japan while simultaneously laying special emphasis on qulaity and price. Speaking more on the upcoming affordable bike plan, Toshikazu Kobayashi, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor R&D India, said, “The project is on. At this time we are not sure if the end product will cost $500, less or more. But we are working on the project keeping $500 (Aprox Rs. 30,000) as the benchmark price. We are trying our best.” During a recent visit to India, Hiroyuki Yanagi, President and CEO, said, “We try to make good products for customers, which includes performance and values.”
Source: HBL
