Indian Motorcycle planning CKD operations

Polaris India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based off-road vehicle maker Polaris Industries, is exploring possibility to assemble its iconic motorcycle brand 'Indian' in the country in 3-5 years. The company, which today launched two new bikes- Roadmaster and Chief Dark Horse priced at Rs 34.95 lakh and Rs 21.99 lakh, respectively- will also be adding four more showrooms this year in India.

"We are not immediately looking at having assembly of completely knocked down (CD) units here, but we are exploring possibilities of having CKD assembly here in next three to five years," Polaris India Managing Director Pankaj Dubey told. Such a step, he said, would help in bringing down the prices of some of its models in India. The company imports bikes as completely built units from its lone manufacturing facility in the US.

The brand is named so as a reference to ethnic Indian community in America. At present, motorcycles with engines above 800cc attract import duty of 75 per cent. Local assembly will help the 'Indian' brand to take on rival Harley Davidson, which assembles some of its models in Haryana. Last year, Polaris India had launched three models under the Chief range- Classic, Vintage and Chieftain, priced at Rs 26.5 lakh, 29.5 lakh and Rs 33 lakh (all ex-showroom Delhi), respectively. It later added one more model Scout at a price of Rs 11.99 lakh.

Commenting on the sales performance of India Motorcycle in its first year in the country, Dubey said: "Whatever targets we have kept have been met." He said the company was able to garner 10 per cent of 1,600 cc and above segment in India that was estimated to be around 200 units per annum. On network expansion for 'Indian' motorcycle, Dubey said the company is looking to open four new showrooms in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. With the new showroom in Bangalore opened today and the existing one in Delhi-NCR, it will have a total of six outlets by the end of the year. Minnesota-based Polaris acquired 'Indian' in 2011 and unveiled an all new range of motorcycles in 2013.