The new Yamaha FZ16, launched at a price of Rs 65,000 ex-showroom
Yamaha has launched its new 150cc motorcycle, the FZ16, in the Indian market. The bike, priced at Rs 65,000 ex-showroom, will take its place in Yamaha dealerships alongside the sportier R15, which was launched earlier this year.
‘We have received a good response to the R15, and given the price of FZ16, expectations with the products are even more. We had targeted to sell 20,000 units of R15 in the first six months of its launch but we have already sold 10,000 units since July. The company would likely exceed the target for that product,’ says Pankaj Dubey, National Business Head, India Yamaha Motor.
With the recent launch of the R15 sportsbike, Yamaha is witnessing a minor resurgence – something it hopes to continue with the less expensive, but equally stylish FZ16. The company hopes to be able to sell no less than 30,000 units of the FZ16 by the end of this year.
‘Going forward, products unique to the Indian market such as the R15 and the newly launched FZ16 will play a major role in the revitalisation of Yamaha here,’ says Tsutomu Mabuchi, CEO and MD, Yamaha India. ‘Our two new motorcycles were specifically designed for India. We would continue designing products specifically for this market, which reflect global Yamaha DNA. Going forward, we want to be perceived as a premium bike maker in India, with which the youth of this country identifies,’ he adds.
Yamaha, which has seen declining sales in India over the last decade, has made multiple attempts at recreating its sales success of the 1980s, but has largely failed to do so. Now, the company plans to invest up to Rs 800 crore in the Indian market and double capacity to 800,000 units a year.
Yamaha sees India as an important two-wheeler market – no surprise given that 7.2 million two-wheelers are sold in India per year. Yamaha is aiming at garnering a 10 percent market share in India by 2010, though with stiff competition from Bajaj and Hero Honda, it remains to be seen if the company can actually pull that off.
For more information on the FZ16, visit the Yamaha website here
