MV Agusta to power its way into India

brianbandra · 10th February 2008, 11:26

MV Agusta to power its way into India=

MV Agusta, the Italian exotic superbike maker, is actively looking to launch its bikes in India. The company is currently looking out for an importer. The price tag of the machines bearing the famous MV (Meccanica Verghera) lightning badge is expected to start at a steep Rs 13 lakh and go well past the Rs 22 lakh mark.
MV Agusta motorcycles have an incredibly rich past when it comes to racing and today the motorcycles rolling out of Varese are considered the equivalent of Ferraris on two wheels. MV Agusta will follow a clutch of global auto giants including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Harley-Davidson and recently Triumph, who have charted out their India entry plans with a range of superbikes. A superbike is classified as a motorcycle having an engine capacity of more than 750cc. Such bikes are generally clubbed as lifestyle products. Pune-based Kinetic Motors, makers of scooter brand Flyte and Nova, may become the likely importer of the premium bikes for MV Agusta. Kinetic had earlier signed an agreement with MV Agusta for supply of various components of motorcycles for Agusta's entry level model under the Cagiva brand. Speaking to Business Standard, Claudio Castiglioni, managing director, MV Agusta, said, “We are now looking for an importer in India for our motorcycles. It may be even possible that we may ask Kinetic if they would be able to sell them.” The company's plan is to position the Cagiva branded bikes, which have 125cc models, as entry level bikes in the market, with the powerful MV Agusta machines at the upper spectrum. Interestingly, to avoid huge import duties, Japanese companies like Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki are either working on a local assembly or are working on streamlining operations for a similar move. One of Cagiva's 125cc models will be manufactured at Kinetic's Pune facility according to an agreement signed between the two companies last year. The facility will churn out two-stroke and four-stroke versions of the same bike. A similar machine is sold in Italy. Two-wheeler experts indicate that the superbike market in India is expected to escalate once there is clarity on the duty structure. “It is hard to put a number to the actual market size of these superbikes but the initial response for bikes from Honda and Yamaha are overwhelming,” said an analyst. Most of these powerful bikes are priced above the Rs 5 lakh price bracket, which makes them a niche product. MV Agusta bikes are easily priced well above this and maybe available for about Rs 13 lakh for the cheapest model. There even more expensive, high performance machines from the stable. Yamaha was among the first companies to have launched the world-renowned superbike YZF-R1 and the MT01 on Indian roads in December last year. Honda is expected to follow this year with the CBR 1000RR and the CBR 650 RR. Suzuki is expected to launch the new Hayabusa and Kawasaki will launch the small capacity Ninja range by the middle of this year.

straight6 · 10th February 2008, 16:35

I think its a stupid decision(and it probably won't happen either). As it is the japanese bikes are so expensive by the time they reach India. Just imagine how expensive this will get.

kkr2k2 · 10th February 2008, 17:57

ah....Cagiva!

the mito, afaik is a two stroke with incredible power with 6 gears. if they come out with a 4 stroke option it would be competing with yamaha R15.

hmm... this is interesting. lets wait and watch.

but did i hear kinetic, its better they do some research on kinetic-hyosung thing. they did some thing like this and failed miserably. ALL THE BEST CAGIVA.

sunilbakshi · 10th February 2008, 21:40

13 - 22 lakhs! thats really steep!

but i think the hyosung comet & aquila was a immediate sellout success. its just that they decided to import only a limited edition quantity rather than a full fledged continuous operation.

kkr2k2 · 11th February 2008, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunilbakshi

but i think the hyosung comet & aquila was a immediate sellout success. its just that they decided to import only a limited edition quantity rather than a full fledged continuous operation.

So does that mean once few bikes are sold, the collaboration is over?

apart from the comet and aquila, what happened to GF series? they supposed to be the first bikes in india to have 4valves per cylinder.

raj

10th February 2008, 11:26	#1
brianbandra BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: mumbai Posts: 57 Thanked: 0 Times	MV Agusta to power its way into India MV Agusta to power its way into India= MV Agusta, the Italian exotic superbike maker, is actively looking to launch its bikes in India. The company is currently looking out for an importer. The price tag of the machines bearing the famous MV (Meccanica Verghera) lightning badge is expected to start at a steep Rs 13 lakh and go well past the Rs 22 lakh mark. MV Agusta motorcycles have an incredibly rich past when it comes to racing and today the motorcycles rolling out of Varese are considered the equivalent of Ferraris on two wheels. MV Agusta will follow a clutch of global auto giants including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Harley-Davidson and recently Triumph, who have charted out their India entry plans with a range of superbikes. A superbike is classified as a motorcycle having an engine capacity of more than 750cc. Such bikes are generally clubbed as lifestyle products. Pune-based Kinetic Motors, makers of scooter brand Flyte and Nova, may become the likely importer of the premium bikes for MV Agusta. Kinetic had earlier signed an agreement with MV Agusta for supply of various components of motorcycles for Agusta's entry level model under the Cagiva brand. Speaking to Business Standard, Claudio Castiglioni, managing director, MV Agusta, said, “We are now looking for an importer in India for our motorcycles. It may be even possible that we may ask Kinetic if they would be able to sell them.” The company's plan is to position the Cagiva branded bikes, which have 125cc models, as entry level bikes in the market, with the powerful MV Agusta machines at the upper spectrum. Interestingly, to avoid huge import duties, Japanese companies like Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki are either working on a local assembly or are working on streamlining operations for a similar move. One of Cagiva's 125cc models will be manufactured at Kinetic's Pune facility according to an agreement signed between the two companies last year. The facility will churn out two-stroke and four-stroke versions of the same bike. A similar machine is sold in Italy. Two-wheeler experts indicate that the superbike market in India is expected to escalate once there is clarity on the duty structure. “It is hard to put a number to the actual market size of these superbikes but the initial response for bikes from Honda and Yamaha are overwhelming,” said an analyst. Most of these powerful bikes are priced above the Rs 5 lakh price bracket, which makes them a niche product. MV Agusta bikes are easily priced well above this and maybe available for about Rs 13 lakh for the cheapest model. There even more expensive, high performance machines from the stable. Yamaha was among the first companies to have launched the world-renowned superbike YZF-R1 and the MT01 on Indian roads in December last year. Honda is expected to follow this year with the CBR 1000RR and the CBR 650 RR. Suzuki is expected to launch the new Hayabusa and Kawasaki will launch the small capacity Ninja range by the middle of this year.
	() Thanks

10th February 2008, 16:35	#2
straight6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 2,548 Thanked: 296 Times	I think its a stupid decision(and it probably won't happen either). As it is the japanese bikes are so expensive by the time they reach India. Just imagine how expensive this will get.
	() Thanks

10th February 2008, 17:57	#3
kkr2k2 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Hyd Posts: 1,294 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	ah....Cagiva! the mito, afaik is a two stroke with incredible power with 6 gears. if they come out with a 4 stroke option it would be competing with yamaha R15. hmm... this is interesting. lets wait and watch. but did i hear kinetic, its better they do some research on kinetic-hyosung thing. they did some thing like this and failed miserably. ALL THE BEST CAGIVA.
	() Thanks

10th February 2008, 21:40	#4
sunilbakshi BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 109 Thanked: 0 Times	13 - 22 lakhs! thats really steep! but i think the hyosung comet & aquila was a immediate sellout success. its just that they decided to import only a limited edition quantity rather than a full fledged continuous operation.
	() Thanks