Kawasaki sets up India subsidiary

After pursuing a technical collaboration with Bajaj Auto for over a decade, Kawasaki Heavy Industries which makes motorcycles, ATVs and a variety of other vehicles has set up its wholly-owned subsidiary in India. India Kawasaki Motors has been set up at an initial investment of Rs 5 crore. The Japanese company will continue to utilise Bajaj Auto’s production and distribution facilities. It launched its first product in India, the Ninja 250R, last October and hopes to sell 1000 units in the current fiscal. The Indian market for high-powered bikes is estimated at 30,000 units per annum. According to a senior Kawasaki official, the Ninja assembly capacity of 100 units (per month) at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant will be doubled soon.