Kinetic to launch King this month

Pune-based Kinetic Motor Company plans to introduce 'King', a combination of a moped and a motorcycle, for the rural and semi-urban markets this month.

"We are set to launch the King in select markets of India in August. Depending on the response, King-100 will be sold across the country. The vehicle will be priced at around Rs 20,000 and is expected to give a mileage of 75-80 kilometres per litre, making it a cost-effective option for those aspiring for two-wheelers in smaller cities," Vismaya Firodia, vice president, Kinetic, said.

Firodia, who was recently in Ahmedabad to launch Kinetic's new 135 cc gearless scooter, Nova-135, also said that the company expects to sell 4000 units of King-100 every month during the first year.

The vehicle will also be exported to Latin America, Africa, the Middle-East and other south Asian countries. Kinetic, which entered into a strategic alliance with Korean two-wheeler major Hyosung earlier this year, will also launch the Korean company's Comet-250 in September.

"Kinetic will also introduce Comet, the Hyosung brand motorcycle, in India next month. Though Hyosung sells 400 cc powerful bikes under Comet brand, it will launch a 250 cc model in India considering the road conditions. This model will be targeted at a niche market for cruiser motorcycles and will be priced between Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 2 lakh," Firodia said.

Kinetic expects to sell 250 units of Comet-250 during next one year, while it would keep selling Aquilla, another cruiser bike from Hyosung. The Aquilla, with a 250cc v-twin engine giving 26 bhp power, is so far the country's costliest motorcycle at Rs 1.75 lakh.

Hyosung is one of the top 10 conglomerates of South Korea with an annual turnover in excess of Rs 18,000 crore and it manufactures a wide range of two-wheelers up to 1100cc capacity.

"Initially, we will import Comet-250 from Hyosung till our production line is ready to manufacture Hyosung models in the Ahmednagar plant and later the Hyosung bikes may be manufactured locally for the Indian market," Firodia said.

By March, 2005, Kinetic aims to sell one lakh motorcycles, including its three models launched earlier "" Velocity, Laser and Boss, Kinetic GF.