HMSI launches 250cc bike, eyes 20-25% growth

The Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India on Wednesday launched its first 250 cc sports bike in the country and hoped to grow sales volume by 20-25 per cent despite sharp increase in interest rates.

"We sold 16.85 lakh units in FY 2011. In the current fiscal, we plan to increase it to 21 lakh units. We will continue to grow faster than industry. The turnover is also expected to jump to Rs 7,500 crore (Rs 75 billion) this year," company head sales N K Rattan said in New Delhi at the launch of the bike CBR 250R.

In order to meet the growing demand the company's second plant at Rajasthan will begin production from the second half of this year.

The new unit will be capable of producing six lakh units a year in the first phase. "We invested Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) in the second plant so far," Rattan said.

Speaking about the new sports bike, which is priced in the range of Rs 1.46 lakh to Rs 1.71 lakh ex showroom Kolkata, Rattan said "we plan to sell 30,000 units in India and export 10,000 units."