http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/jan/12bike.htm
{QUote}
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a long time collaborator of Bajaj Auto [Get
Quote], has announced that the company will launch high performance
bikes by mid-2008.
The announcement comes barely a day after Bajaj Auto made similar deal
with the Austrian sports bike company, KTM.
According to the deal, a range of Kawasaki bikes including the Ninja
250, Sports Roadster, Ninja ZX-6R, Z1000 and the Vulcan Cruiser will
be marketed by Bajaj Auto at their Probiking showrooms.
In return, Bajaj will get assistance in technology and design
development from Kawasaki for future products. Kawasaki will also tap
into Bajaj's extensive supplier base for sourcing components.
Kawasaki will provide the necessary service training and parts back-up
to ensure the upkeep of such high performance bikes.
Shinichi Tamba, president, Kawasaki Consumer Products and Machinery
Company, said, "India is a very important market for KHI and Bajaj
Auto is a strong partner. The Indian market is in the cusp of
progressing to big bikes and Kawasaki is highly regarded in this
segment."
To start with, the Ninja 250 model will be assembled at Bajaj's Chakan
facility to tackle the huge import duties that are usually levied on
imported vehicles. The 250cc, 30ps bike will be imported as completely
knocked down kits from Kawasaki's Thailand plant.
Through this, the alliance also stands to gain from the low duties
enjoyed between India and Thailand on account of the free trade
agreement. This means that the bikes will be priced attractively,
although the actual prices were not disclosed.
Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto, said, "Both companies have synergised
their strengths to widen the portfolio in their respective markets.
The domestic customer can now experience the power of big biking,
while the Kawasaki customer in the Philippines has been experiencing
the range of Bajaj products for the past few years. We are in
discussions to extend the Philippines business model to other
countries as well."
Bajaj has 10 probiking showrooms in the country, with a presence in
all major markets. The company plans to add 10 more showrooms by end
of March 2008.
{/quote}
