Hyosung superbikes to be made in India - The Hindu

[Mech]

DSK Motowheels, a part of the construction and realty player DSK Group, is keen to make Hyosung motorcycles in India.

The company, which imports superbikes made by Hyosung Motors (renamed S&T Motors) of Korea as completely knocked down (CKD) kits and sells them in India, is keen to set up a manufacturing facility in India.

Addressing a press conference at the launch of Hyosung's GT250R superbike here, Shirish Kulkarni, Director, DSK Motowheels, said, “We want to have an Indian-made Hyosung bike in the next 18 months with 90 per cent localisation and engine and gearbox support from Hyosung.”

However, the company has not yet decided on a location for the proposed plant.

“We have not yet decided. We want it somewhere between Mumbai and Pune and expect support from the State government. But, we are also considering Goa, Gujarat or Karnataka as alternative locations,” Mr. Kulkarni told reporters.

The superbike GT250R, launched on Wednesday, is priced at Rs.2.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the most expensive in its category. DSK Motowheels already sells three Hyosung-made superbikes — GT650R, GT650N and ST7 in India. ‘The Big Boy' GT250R will be available in India from next month.

According to Mr. Kulkarni, localisation would halve the price of GT250R to around Rs.1.5 lakh.

“We hope to start localising in a big way to bring down costs,” said Justin Lee, Head, Global Sales, S&T Motors, adding that the Hyosung brand was well received in India and, last year, more than 600 motorcycles were sold here.

Mr. Kulkarni said, “We are confident that the GT250R will set a benchmark in the 250cc segment by taking super biking industry to the next level. We are targeting bike sales of 3,000 units in 2012-13 and will launch the GV-650 bike after September 2012 and the GV-250 between December 2012 and February 2013 as we need to give GT250R some time to establish itself.”

The Hindu : Business / Companies : DSK launches GT250R superbike