Following its cues from bikemakers like Yamaha, Suzuki, and Tokyo-based Honda Motor Company has upped its ante on the superbike segment, as it has firmed up plans to introduce its series motorcycles in the category of 800-1,000cc engines, costing above Rs. 10 lakh in India. While the models have still not been finalized, media reports suggest that one of them would be the CBR1000RR, which could make inroads during this fiscal, and the other one would sport an 800cc engine. It has also been learnt that all the superbikes would be imported as Completely Built Units (CBU) and will attract an import duty of at least 100 per cent. The company will also introduce a new model in the mass market category of 100-150 cc during the same period, as reported earlier. For the big-bike business, the company will set up exclusive stores in the four metros initially.

According to a senior representative of HMSI, the company will establish their own showrooms in the metro cities for superbikes, and will subsequently expand taking into account serviceability and other issues.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), has outlined an investment outlay of Rs. 300-crore in the next three years to scale up its production capacity to 1.4 million units at its Manesar plant in the country. The company has already spent Rs. 900 crore since inception about eight years ago. The company which is aiming to sell 10 lakh units by the end of this fiscal, has earlier stated that of the total units targeted for sale, scooters will account for at least 70 per cent of the overall pie, while the balance will constitute motorcycles. HMSI sold about 9.07 lakh units in the 2007-08 fiscal. On exports front, the company is targeting to sell 40,000 units from India in the overseas markets. HMSI's upcoming 100cc motorcycle might actually be fuel-injected, ditching the age-old carburetor in order to get maximum fuel efficiency. The company is also likely to launch a new gearless scooter by the end of this fiscal, in order to take on the competition.

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