Yamaha Motor India wakes up!

Yamaha Motor India suddenly wakes up and decides that it will change its product strategy and launch bigger and more powerful bikes in India and be truer to it DNA worldwide - performance, innovation and design. The RX 100 and 135 were the only motorcycles that Yamaha could really sell in India. The RD 350, though the best selling Yamaha model globally, was introduced prematurely in the Indian market and has become a cult bike. For a decade and a half Yamaha seems to be in a deep slumber when it comes to the Indian market. The Crux, YBX, Frazer, Gladiator, were all a sham in the name of innovation and design. I mean, the people who designed these two-wheelers HAD to be aesthetically challenged. No wonder the drop in sales. Neither did a 1300 cc 'busa zipping John could push sales for a frankestenian Gladiator.

Now, Yamaha has launched the 1000 cc YZF-R1 (priced at around INR 100,000), 1670cc MT01 and the Gladiator Type SS and RS (repackaged Gladiator with a couple of extra horses-still very ugly). The bike to look out for is the 150 cc air-cooled FZ, which is scheduled to be launched during Diwali this year. The FZ to be launched in India is a replica toy of the actual FZ1, a 1000 cc monster. But still I give the thumbs-up to Yamaha Motor India for being the pioneer in scaling down a superbike to meet Indian cunsumer needs. I always wondered why can't these motorcycle OEMs never introduce a 150-250 cc scaled down version of their superbikes in India, keeping the design aspect same. Finally, somebody heard me.

When Yamaha Motor India, CEO and MD Mr. Mabuchi took a walk of Bajaj Motors' Pune plant, the intent and the new resolve of Yamaha was evident. That was almost a year back and now Yamaha Motor India has revealed it new strategy to gain market share. The product portfolio of Yamaha by end of this year would cater to all the three motorcycle segments in India - entry, executive and premium segments. I would definitely keep a look-out for Yamaha in the coming years and we could very well see a change in dynamics in the Indian motorcycle market.