Speaking to reporters at the company's manufacturing plant near Chennai, he said: "In 2008, our India strategy started with launching the high end motorcycles, in 2012 we launched scooters and this year we launched our commuter segment motorcycle Saluto. We will have another product launched next year."
He said that the company started to look at the commuter segment market now, though the focus would be in the high end segment. Saluto is produced from the Chennai facility.
The facility currently produce the Alpha, Fascino and Ray scooters and Saluto motorcycle. The facility, which is planned to have a capacity of 1.8 million units by 2018, with a total investment of Rs 1,500 crore, currently has a capacity of 450,000 units. The total investment till date is Rs 1,200 crore.
He added that the commuter segment, which has started with Saluto, will also address the rural market, where the company's presence in motorcycle is less now. While the rural market was a little tougher, it is also expected to be growing, he said.
"This year's second half the economic situation is gradually improving. I believe that Indian market will grow from now," he said. The company will have new products to be launched in the country. The company currently has a marketshare of 3.7 per cent overall in India, while in scooter segment it is five per cent. The target is to have 10 per cent market share by 2018," said Riuji Kawashima, Deputy managing director, business expansion, India Yamaha Motor.
The share of scooter in its produxt mix is currently 40 per cent when motor cycle is 60 per cent, in future the company expects the mix to be 50 per cent each.
