Ducati Motocycle 2011

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Ducati

Ducati

 

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Ducati builds some of the most beautiful bikes in the world, but at Rs 20 lakh and above, is there a significant market in India for these bikes?

Italian sportsbike manufacturer, Ducati is now setting up shop in India. Ducati Motor Holding will be operating in India via Precision Motor India Pvt Ltd, which will be the sole importer of Ducati motorcycles in the country.

‘We will be launching four different models in multiple variants. These bikes will be available starting at Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh in the Indian market,’ said Ashish Chordia, CEO, Precision Motor. He added that his company would import fifty Ducati bikes from Italy this year, increasing the number next year depending on demand.

'We strongly believe the fast growing Indian market is of a strategic importance to Ducati and we will do our best to consolidate our presence and capitalise on the huge opportunity this country has to offer,' said Ducati CEO Gabriele Del Torchio. The Italian company is expected to spend up to US$4 million towards setting up its dealer network in India. The first two showrooms will be opened in Delhi and Mumbai, with other major cities to follow in 2009.

Ducati manufactures high-performance sportsbikes and superbikes which are famous for their V-twin engines. The Italian company has been extremely successful in World Superbikes and MotoGP, the two top professional motorcycle roadracing series in the world.

In India, 114% import duties will be levied on Ducati bikes, making them extremely expensive by world standards. From Rs 21.75 lakh for the Ducati 848 to Rs 48 lakh for the Ducati 1098R, these bikes will only be for the super-rich.

In the recent past, Pune-based Kinetic had imported some units of the Hyosung GT250, a Korean-built sportsbike that sold for Rs 1.80 lakh. And Yamaha is also selling the R1 superbike and MT01 musclebike, both of which are priced upwards of Rs 12 lakh, in the Indian market.

Other Japanese bike makers as well as Bajaj-KTM are also expected to bring in bigger, sportier bikes to India this year, while Tata is said to be considering buying a stake in MV Agusta, another Italian company that makes some of the best superbikes in the world