India Kawasaki Motor mulls local assembly of more sportsbikes

India Kawasaki Motor, the Indian subsidiary of Japanese motorcycle maker Kawasaki has a capacity to assemble 5,000 motorcycles each year from its assembly unit, situated within the Bajaj Auto factory at Chakan. Presently, Kawasaki assembles only two motorcycles in India: the Ninja 300R and the Ninja 650R. Currently, the motorcycle maker assembles 1,500 motorcycles each year. Kawasaki also sells two more sportsbikes in India, in the form of the Ninja ZX-10R and the Ninja ZX-14R. 

To make better use of its assembly facility, the Japanese motorcycle maker plans to assemble more motorcycles in India. The Ninja 250R is one such motorcycle that could make a comeback into the Indian market. The Ninja 250R, which used to be sold in India prior to the launch of the Ninja 300R, has been discontinued from the Indian motorcycle market. The motorcycle could make a comeback as a lower priced offering, giving buyers a lower entry point into Brand Kawasaki. 

India Kawasaki Motor's Shigeto Nishikawa, speaking to BusinessStandard, has noted that the brand is looking at evaluating other motorcycles from its global portfolio, for a possible launch in India. The Japanese motorcycle maker is also launching into a solo attempt on the sales and distribution front with independent Kawasaki dealerships, the first of which has come up at Wakdewadi, Pune. 

Kawasaki intends to establish more such independent dealerships across the country, to sell its high performance range of motorcycles. Until Kawasaki goes about establishing more standalone dealerships in India, the likes of the Ninja 300R and the Ninja 650R will be sold from KTM Stores (previously ProBiking Stores) , the dealership chain that Bajaj Auto has designated for retail sales and service of KTM and Kawasaki motorcycles.