BMW to launch under-1,000cc bikes by Jan

The German auto major BMW, which entered the domestic market early this year with as many as six models in the two-wheeler segment, plans to launch under-1,000-cc bikes by January.

"We will launch bikes below 1,000 cc in the domestic market in January," Navnit Motors Managing Director Sharad Kachalia said.

BMW Motorrad, the superbikes division of the German luxury carmaker, does not have direct presence in the country. It is present through two dealers--Deutsche Motoren in Delhi and Navnit Motors in Mumbai- who import these superbikes as completely built units from Berlin.

BMW Motorrad entered the domestic market this January. According to Kachalia, the auto major is aiming to sell over 50 motorcycles by the end of this year. "We have already sold 39 bikes so far and our target is to sell over 50 bikes by December."

"The demand for superbikes is growing here and we want to tap the opportunity," Kachalia said.

BMW sells six 1000 cc plus models in the country --the R1200R, S1000RR, R1200GS, K1300, K1600GTL and the HP2. These models are priced at Rs 18 lakh onwards.

"All our models have a good demand, but our three models - the S1000 RR, R1200 GS, the K1600GTL--have better demand. Our all bikes are above 1,000 cc and in the price range Rs 18-25-lakh," he said.

BMW had earlier planned to piggy ride the Munjals-promoted Hero Motors with the launch of a mid-sized single cylinder motorcycle. However, despite a positive market study, the project was shelved as the company found the domestic superbikes to be too small at that time.