If you love bikes, read this

Indians increasing passion for superbikes is making two-wheeler manufacturers introduce more super bikes customized to Indian road conditions and affordability. As per a news report by The Economic Times, superbike makers are working out plans to localise production so as to cut down their prices.

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, sales of bikes with engine capacity of 500cc and above jumped nearly threefold to 9,130 units in the year ended on March 31, 2015 from 3,424 in the previous year.

While market leaders like American Harley-Davidson and British classic bike maker Triumph, as well as Japanese Kawasaki, are already assembling several of their models at their Indian factories, others like Honda Motor and Suzuki Motorcycle, who sell a sizeable number of superbikes in India, are also working on plans to assemble highend bikes here, reads the ET news report.

India levies a lower rate of tax on locally assembled vehicles compared to those imported as fully-built units. Luxury cars such as Mercedes-Benz S-Class became cheaper by as much as Rs 30 lakh when its German manufacturer started assembling them in India. Recently, Tata Motors' British unit Jaguar Land Rover started assembling its Range Rover Evoque in India, which helped it cut the vehicle's price by about Rs 20 lakh to Rs 48.73 lakh.

"Customer needs in India are evolving. We are all set to grab the opportunity with our new product line-up," Keita Muramatsu, president and CEO of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India told the ET. The bike, "our biggest 'made in India' motorcycle", will also be exported from here, he said. Suzuki's Hayabusa, which is currently sold at Rs 15.95 lakh in Delhi before local levies and insurance, would be assembled at the company's Manesar plant in Haryana.

(Image: India Times)