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India Yamaha Motor Pvt ltd is targeting 12 lakh unit sales, both scooters and bikes, by 2017 from 5.49 lakh units in 2014. The company also announced new heads for four verticals and launched a motorcycle 'Saluto' through which it is venturing into rural parts of the country.
"New management includes Teraba Yashi who will head India Yamaha Motor Ltd (manufacturing), Asano Masaki will head Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd (sales), Yasuo Ishihara will head Yamaha Motor R&D India Pvt ltd (R&D) and H Fujita will head Yamaha Motor India Pvt Ltd and he will also be chairman for all the four companies," said Masaki Asano, CEO & managing director, Yamaha Motor India Sales Ltd.
He added, last year, the company launched Alpha, New FZ series and SZ-RR with Blue Core technology which were very well accepted. BLUE CORE is a new engine development concept that will contribute to good mileage, with good riding feeling.
"We recently launched Alpha, Ray Z and Ray with Blue Core technology, improving the mileage to 66kmpl from 62kmpl.We will keep using this as a core concept for developing engines, for all upcoming Yamaha city commuter models".
He was talking at the launch of new motorcycle 'Saluto' for the 125cc segment. The product is priced at Rs 52,000 (ex-Delhi). India Yamaha is targeting 60,000 Saluto in 2015.
Roy Kurian, vice president-marketing and sales at Yamaha Motor India Sales said that Yamaha is strong player in Tier-I and Tier-II markets and urban customers know about the company and have accepted the brand.
"Rural mass market that is one area which we are starting now. Saluto will be the first entry and will go further down to mass segment," said Kurian.
"This will not be a major volume driver, this will give good impetus in those markets," he said.
Asano said the company has set a target to sell around 60,000 units of Saluto during the current year and next year 100,000 units in the domestic market.
Initially, the product will be for domestic market and will be exported later on. Saluto will compete with Honda Shine, Hero Glamour and Bajaj Discover.
"USP of the product will be style, power, durability and reliability", said Kurian.
Kurian said Yamaha set a target of eight lakh units sales in 2015, 10 lakh units in 2016 and 12 lakh units in 2017. He said the sales ratio between scooters and motorcycles would be equal in the years to come. Currently 55% of the sales comes from motorcycles, while the balance from scooter. In 2014, the company sold 5.49 lakh units up by 23% compared to 2013 sales numbers, which was 4.47 units.
To support the sales target the company is planning to add 150 new sales outlets in 2015 and 70% of these outlets will come in tier III and other rural areas. Currently the company has 400 sales outlets in the country.
Speaking about company's new manufacturing unit at Oragadam, near Chennai, Kurian said the plant will be inaugurated next month. First year company plans to manufacture around four lakh vehicles, both motorcycle and scooters, and intend to take it to 1.8 million units by 2018.
The plant will cater to both domestic and export markets. Kurian said Yamaha exports to around 60 countries out of India and the target for the current year is around 250,000 units.
