Bajaj Auto and Kawasaki end alliance in India, to continue overseas

The eight-year-old alliance between Bajaj Auto and Kawasaki for the sale and aftersales service of Kawasaki motorcycles through Bajaj’s Probiking network has come to an end. The two firms have decided to terminate the alliance from April 1, 2017.

According to Amit Nandi, president, Probiking, “We have progressively converted our Probiking network to be KTM dealerships. The Bajaj-KTM partnership, launched its first co-developed product, the 200 Duke in 2012. Over the last five years, KTM achieved a CAGR of 48 percent and sales volume in FY17 is estimated at 37,000 units. Now the Duke and RC models are being offered in 5 SKUs through the 300-plus KTM dealerships in India.  Going forward, Bajaj intends to focus on the KTM brand.”

After April 1, 2017, Kawasaki motorcycles will be sold and aftersales service, including that for past customers, will be provided by India Kawasaki Motors, a 100 percent subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Japan, established in India in July 2010, through its own dealer network.

However, Bajaj Auto and Kawasaki will continue to maintain their co-operative relationship across the rest of the world for current and future businesses.