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Yamaha Motor India (YMI) aims to achieve 10 per cent market share in the scooters segment this year as against around 7 per cent at present.
The company has only three scooter variants in its portfolio currently — Fascino, Alpha, and Ray Z — priced between ₹49,400 and ₹53,300 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
These compete with the products of leading companies Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Hero MotoCorp.
“We have 6.5-7 per cent market share right now and expect to reach 10 per cent market share in scooters by end of this year (December). We need a lot of action in the scooter market,” Roy Kurian, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Yamaha Motor India, told BusinessLine on the sidelines of a new product launch here.
He said the company will launch its new scooter Cygnus Ray-ZR next month or early June. The Cygnus Ray-ZR was unveiled during the Auto Expo in February.
According to the company, the Indian scooter market is going through a great phase constituting almost 30 per cent of the two-wheeler market and Yamaha is committed towards offering a perfect mix of style and technology.
The Cygnus Ray-ZR scooter is powered by an air-cooled four-stroke, SOHC, two-valve 113cc engine with a continuously variable transmission unit (CVT) and has lightweight body (103 kg). It will compete with the likes of Honda’s Activa and Hero’s Maestro.
Kurian said with the monsoon expected to be better this year, the sales are also expected to grow from the rural areas for both scooters and commuter motorcycles.
“The January-February months started in a flat note this year and April-May will be the months to predict for growth this year,” he added.
The scooters market grew by 12 per cent in the last financial year with 50,31,678 units against 45,00,920 units in 2014-15 as per the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Meanwhile, YMI launched its latest entry-level bike — Saluto RX — priced at ₹46,400 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and offers a mileage of 82 kmpl.
This next generation 110cc class street model is being targeted at young men who want a stylish commuter motorcycle, which is also affordable and consumes less fuel, the company said.
The Saluto RX mounts a newly developed air-cooled, four-stroke, two-valve single cylinder engine.
“Being committed to India, the launch of the unique 110cc bike is a clear illustration of Yamaha's endeavour to cater to the aspirations of young India,” said Masaki Asano, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor India.
The company sold 60,032 units of scooters and motorcycles in March this year, up 44 per cent against 41,640 units in March last year.
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