The Indian bike market is going to be a scorcher in 2007 with a slew of launches planned. According to a report by Moneycontrol, as many as 60 new bike models are lined up for launch in the next calendar year by new and existing players alike as they seek to consolidate their position in the fast growing domestic motorcycle market. Players such as Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto and Suzuki Motorcycles have firmed up plans to roll out between 8-12 new bikes each, while Kinetic, TVS, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, and Yamaha plan to launch between 3-5 each in 2007.
New brands will also be entering the market next year with Chinese firms firming up launch plans as well as several electric bike makers set to go full throttle. The Guangzhou Motor Company recently signed a technology partnership pact with Kolkata-based Xenitis Group to launch its bikes in India early next year. Another Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Zongshen Motorcycle Company has tied up with the Salim Group for its two-wheeler project in West Bengal. These Chinese bikes are sure to give sleepless nights to Indian manufacturers on the pricing front however it will be difficult for them to match with the large service network of the Indian counterparts.
Further, electric bike makers including Hero Group/Ultra Motors and Electrotherm are set to sell their products from next year. According to analysts, with margins at the entry-level (100 cc segment) segment being wafer-thin, most of the new launches are likely to be in the higher engine capacity segments. The Bajaj Pulsar 220 being a perfect example of this.
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