Suzuki Motorcycle to Launch Two New Bikes This Year

Japanese two-wheeler maker Suzuki Motorcycle aims to sell five lakh units in 2014-15, a top company official said.

The company, as part of consolidating its presence in the two-wheeler market, is also planning to introduce two new motorcycles this year, Suzuki Motorcycle India Executive Vice President, Atul Gupta said, after launching the company's new 110 cc scooterette "LET'S".

"We are No 2 in some states in the scooter segment and countrywide we are No 3 in the market. This year we are planning to sell around five lakh units," Gupta told reporters here.

This is a combined target for both domestic and export markets, he added.

The company sold 3.70 lakh units in 2013-14, comprising 2.70 lakh units of scooterettes and one lakh motorcycles, he said.

Apart from today's launch of LET'S, Suzuki Motorcycle India currently retails scooterettes -- Swish, Access 125 and commuter motorcycles -- Slingshot, Hayate and premium GS150.

Talking about future launches, Gupta said "we will update our products in the mass market and the niche segment" but declined to elaborate.

On exports, Suzuki Motorcycle India President Ichiro Konda said the company wants to increase its contribution from the overseas market to 10 per cent.

"Five years later, we want to increase our exports to 10 per cent. Currently, it is less than one per cent. We are selling to neighbouring countries and some Latin American countries like Columbia and Ecuador", he said.

Export to neighbouring countries has "just started" and was less than one per cent, Gupta said.

On the company's expansion plans, Konda said the firm is present in metros and non-metros and is looking at entering "rural markets".

He said LET'S is targeted at young customers and would compete with Yamaha Motors' "Ray", Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India's "Dio".

The scooterette is priced at Rs 46,925 (ex-showroom, Chennai).