Suzuki Motorcycle to ride Salman Khan

Suzuki Motorcycle India has announced Bollywood actor Salman Khan as its first brand ambassador for India. For the Dabangg star, this is quite a turnaround. There was a time when brands refused to touch the black buck scandal tainted actor, fearing the association would sully their image. But with hits like Dabangg and Bodyguard under his belt, brand Salman has seen a revamp of sorts. His philanthropic work with Being Human has also made his fans se the softer side of his personality. From a soft drink beverage to a detergent brand, Salman seems to be on an endorsement spree. Besides a record deal with travel company Yatra, Salman has recently also been the brand ambassador for the channel History. Recent endorsement deals have now put him in league with counterparts Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan in the brands deal sweepstakes. Salman Khan will spearhead Suzuki's above-the-line and below-the-line initiatives. Ms. Anu Anamika, National Marketing Head, Suzuki Motorcycle India said, “It was important to find a human face who can best portray and project our brand and product promise. Salman Khan is a passionate biker and a discerning brand endorser. We also find broad synergy in his social initiatives such as ‘Being Human'.” The first campaign featuring Salman will be based on the recently launched mass market motorcycle, Hayate and will be breaking shortly. Suzuki Motorcyle will be increasing its annual capacity from the current 3.6 lakh units to 5.4 lakh units by 2013, while doubling the sales and service network in the next two years. It is also expected to set up a second plant in Haryana at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore, with a capacity for 20 lakh units. This will start operations in 2014.