Yamaha Motor plans to launch scooters

Yamaha Motor India (YMI), a fully-owned subsidiary of the $12-billion Japanese auto major Yamaha Motor Company, plans to foray into the fast growing automatic scooter segment.

Yamaha, which has several scooter models, ranging from 110 cc to 400 cc, is evaluating the right segment to foray into the Indian market. YMI managing director and CEO Tomotaka Ishikawa told ET, “We will enter the scooter market but are yet to finalise the segment and the products. Once we introduce our new range of bikes in early 2008, we will concentrate on the right kind of scooter for the Indian market. We plan to hit the premium segment first and target customers who prefer to go for style and power rather than use scooters for their commuting needs.”

The company is likely to introduce its automatic range of scooters with dual disc brakes and twin-shock chassis with high-powered liquid cooled engines in the premium segment. It may also hit the entry-level segment with its fuel-injected 125 cc four-stroke engine and compact-sized urban scooters. YMI has already commissioned a market survey to determine different volume generating scooter segments in India.

“We will have India-specific products, though our high-powered range in Europe and sub-150 cc Asian models could also be considered. We will bring new and better features in our scooters with comfortable suspension which will meet high safety standards,” Mr Ishikawa said.

Yamaha Majesty 400 Motoscooter

As part of its Rs 1,000-crore restructuring plan, YMI will increase its portfolio from the current three bikes it sells in the domestic market. While its high powered 150 cc to 250 cc scooters will hit the urban markets, the 100 cc to 125 cc scooters will target smaller cities and towns.

With a slew of launches in different segments, Yamaha is aiming to dent the scooter market which has remained positive despite the slump in two wheeler sales. While motorcycle sales, which forms 85% of the market, has fallen by 15%, scooters sales grew by 20% to 5.30 lakh units in the first half of this fiscal.

YMI will compete with Japanese arch-rival Honda Motorcycle & Scooter, which commands a 50% marketshare while TVS Motors and Hero Honda also sell a significant number. Recently Suzuki Motorcycles India and Kinetic Motor Company have also joined the fray by launching new scooters in the 125 cc segment while the Ludhania-based Hero Cycles has also introduced a wide range of electric scooters in technical collaboration of Ultra Motors of UK.


Source:- Economictimes.indiatimes


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TVS Motors's 'Women on Wheels'

After wooing male buyers for many years, women have emerged the favourite with two-wheeler companies in India. Data suggests that ungeared scooters, driven by women, are showing faster rate of growth than motorcycles. Two-wheeler manufacturers believe that the future growth will come from women. The reason of their optimism is the very low penetration of two wheelers amongst women and therefore the large potential of growth. While 31% males drive two wheelers, only 2 % women drive two wheelers in India.

Going a step further, TVS Motors, which owns TVS Scooty, has decided to offer two-wheeler training to around one lakh young women in over 100 towns in the country. The project titled 'Women on Wheels' (WOW) will involve training of women by women trainers. Scooty is the leader with more than 70% market share in the light scooter category.

TVS Scooty pep+ is the highst selling scoot in India

Two reasons have been identified for the low penetration of two wheelers. The first, lack of riding skills among women. The other paucity of reasonably priced products. Also, women are afraid to venture on their own in the absence of training and there are hardly any avenues for scientific learning .

"While there are good motor driving institutes in the country, but no emphasis has been laid on scientific learning. Women are afraid to venture on their own in the absence training. The WOW project is our way of empowering women in rural and semi-urban areas" said Prasad Narasimhan, vice president, marketing, TVS Motors.

Women have an innate affinity for design, style and colours. In a rare initiative, TVS has launched Scooty Pep+ in as many as 99 colours. The launch of so many colours have met with overwhelming response from girls. Encouraged by this response, TVS will launch 99 colours in 20 new cities very soon. This is the first in the world that a automobile company is offering such huge range of customized colours to choose from.

"TVS Scooty has been witnessing consistent increase in sales. In May 2007, it recorded sales of 25,280 units compared to 20,396 units sold during May 2006, recording a growth of 24%. Similarly in April 2007, Scooty recorded 18,798 units in April 2007 compared to 17,969 units recorded last year during the corresponding period, said Narasimhan."

Source:- FinancialExpress

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