People can take a glimpse of new Duke 390 which was spied at various places. As we can see that the bike is featured with traces of orange on the body as well as alloy. The photographer hasn’t divulged any details but the good folks at Powerdrift. the owners of these low-res pic, are of the opinion that absence of an ABS unit on the front brakes is a definite proof of the fact that the bike in the above pic is indeed the India spec KTM 390.
That the KTM 390 Duke is headed our way is a known fact. There have been several reports that suggest that the 390 Duke will be launched in India in April this year. However, a recent comment from a high official in KTM India hinted at a July launch for the new bike. While there is no denying that a concrete date for the KTM 390 Duke India launch is still unknown, it is for sure that Indian bike aficionados won’t have to wait much for the bigger Duke to arrive in our country.
When it launches the Duke 390 motorcycle in the US early next year, Bajaj Auto will become the first Indian automotive firm to export ‘Made in India’ vehicles to sell their products in that market, according to a BS report.
The report further said that Bajaj Auto would produce street bikes for its Austrian partner, KTM AG, which has so far been selling only off-road motorcycles in the US. What is more, the stylish, high-performance and race-oriented motorcycle model, KTM Duke 390 would be manufactured Bajaj Auto’s Chakkan plant, near Pune in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, noted the report.
Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM-Sportmotorcycle told the daily: “It is a strategic decision with Bajaj Auto to go for sporty, stylish motorcycles, even for the saturated markets, because cars have become too expensive. We are entering the US street-bike segment for the first time and, beginning next year, the Duke 390, manufactured in India, would be sold in the US market”.
Stating that US is the world’s biggest market for high-end super bikes (above 990 cc), the report went on to add that the ongoing financial crises have forced consumers to scale down to more affordable, efficient and easy-on-pocket products. The Duke 390, to be launched in Europe by the middle of this year, followed by India, before the US, has been developed under a joint programme of Bajaj and KTM engineers, the report pointed out. Though the concept was developed in Austria, while everything else, including design and final product development, was accomplished in India by Bajaj Auto, the report said. Before this, the Pune-based auto major, which owns stake in KTM, successfully launched two models — Duke 200 and Duke 125 — which were built and sold in India and exported to Europe and other markets, informed the report.
Elaborating on the product, Pierer continued: “These small-displacement street bikes are ideal for urban commuting, especially in saturated markets like the US and Europe. What we are talking about are powerful (40-44 bhp) but affordable bikes at 138 kilogram, these are powerful and agile. With a target price of $ 5,000, including VAT, we think it could be a phenomenal success”.
Riding high on India-made smaller bikes, KTM overtook German motorcyle major BMW last year to become Europe’s largest bike maker, with sales of 107,000 units, as against BMW’s 106,000. Going forward, Bajaj Auto is aiming at stepping up production from India, at the same time, looking for greener pastures in the ASEAN region and Latin America, concurred the report.
While in few of the Asian markets the Indian firm has its own organised network, while in other markets, Bajaj Auto is using the resources of its Japanese partner, Kawasaki. Having said that, India’s second biggest two-wheeler manufacturer has a solid network in Latin America as well. The official sees a humungous rise in production from the Chakan plant in the next five years, meaning the joint venture entity would be manufacturing these motorcycles in excess of 100,000 units a year from the last year’s production number of 17,000 vehicles. If implemented, this would be half the total expected output for KTM globally by that time, the report said, quoting the official as saying.
Pierer added: ‘We would be manufacturing 200,000 units a year. Out of that, 100,000 vehicles would be made in India. We expect sales of 10,000 Duke 390 motorcycles in Europe and the US. The rest of the production would be sold in India and other regions”.
Also see – KTM Duke 390 all-set to launch in India by March-2013, unofficial bookings taken
Source – Powerdrift
