After acquiring ailing Kinetic motors, Mahindra is doing the same to the two wheeler industry what it did to the four wheeler industry.
After a fantastic financial year 2010 where Mahindra managed to record sales of 70,000 units which included its 125cc powerscooters, the company is planning to foray into the immensely competitive and beneficial motorcycle segment.
Current lineup of Mahindra includes only scooters and an addition of good motorcycles would further enhance these figures for the company.
Mahindra would concentrate on the volume boosting 100-125cc segment first and depending upon the response, move up the ladder. And the first motorcycle which might be out by March/April 2011 would be a 100-125cc bike featuring some superior features and the USP would be the attractive price tag. This mass motorcycle is already developed ‘ground up’ by Mahindra together with Italy based Engines Engineering and Taiwan’s Sanyang Industry Ltd (SYM). Mahindra also plans to launch a premium motorcycle and is cautious about the branding and image of the bike. Mahindra has a manufacturing unit at Pitampur near Indore (MP) which has a capacity of producing 5,00,000 units annually and the new bikes are expected to be rolled out from the same plant. Many enthusiasts are also expecting a relaunch of the 250cc Comet and Aquila and stage seems to be set for Mahindra to think on these lines.
– Saad Khan