Japanese major Yamaha Motor is eyeing sales volume of over one million two-wheelers in India by 2014 as it launches more bikes, expands capacity and rolls out a scooter.

Introducing its first scooter Ray, Hiroyuki Yanagi, President and CEO, Yamaha Motor Company Ltd, said: “For Global Yamaha Motor group, India Yamaha Motor holds great importance as a strategic production and sales base.

“By 2018, our total production capacity in India will reach 2.8 million units. At that point, India will play an extremely important role among Yamaha group, not just in supplying to the Indian market but also in exporting to other markets. We will aggressively transfer technology to accelerate the two-wheeler industry,” he said.

Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO and MD, India Yamaha Motor, said the new manufacturing base at Chennai will be commissioned by January 2014.

“We are planning to expand our sales to two million units in 2016 and 2.8 million units in 2018,” he said. The 113 cc scooter priced at Rs 46,000 ex-showroom was earlier launched by Yamaha brand ambassador and Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone.

While the motorcycle market has seen de-growth, scooter segment is rapidly expanding.

“We are particularly targeting young girls and families where every member uses a scooter,” Roy Kurian, National Business Head, India Yamaha.

>rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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