DSK Motowheels looking at making 125-150cc bikes

DSK Motowheels, the parent company behind Hyosung and Benelli superbikes in India, is looking at making small capacity (125-150cc) bikes in India.

Chairman of DSK Motowheels, Shirish Kulkarni, has revealed to ZigWheels that the company is looking at increasing localisation of the two brands – sourcing many components from local manufacturers.  What this will do is bring down costs of bikes, and also enhance the company’s capability to build bikes from the ground up in India.

“We want to make 125cc and 150cc bikes,” Kulkarni said.  “If you ask me, both Hyosung and Benelli have got engines in that segment. We are already in talks with Hyosung for localisation in India. So, whoever comes forward first to us, we are ready to go with them and start production in India.”

“But it takes its own time. It may take 2 years or even more. Even if Benelli wants to do it, they can’t do it in two years. You have to talk to vendors, invest in their tooling, it’s a time consuming process,” Kulkarni said.

DSK Motowheels has been in talks with Hyosung for increasing localisation for over three years and now it seems the Korean company is warming up to the possibility of manufacturing Hyosung bikes in India, not only for the Indian market, but to export it to other markets as well. Manufacturing of 125-150cc bikes will only be possible after 100 per cent localisation of bikes.

Getting into the commuter class motorcycles segment may be one way of looking at high sales volumes, but it also has its own share of challenges. To really succeed in this game, a strong after sales and service network is essential, because this is a crucial factor consumers of this segment look at.

And DSK is aware of that. Kulkarni said that his company will first need to have at least 150 dealerships in place, before getting into the high-volumes commuter segment. DSK Motowheels will invest Rs 300-350 crore in a second plant in Pune, which has already been acquired as a ready set-up. This plant will have capacity of producing 50,000 units a year and will be 100 per cent operational within a year and a half.