ROME: Italian super bike maker Benelli launched five bikes in India starting Rs 2.83 lakh to challenge the dominance of Japanese, US and Korean bikes.
The century old brand headquartered in Pesaro, Italy has tied up with Pune-based real estate group DSK for doing local assembly of the bikes. Marketing, sale and distribution aspects also rests with DSK Motowheels, the contract manufacturing company of the group.
The Benelli TNT 300 is priced at Rs 2.83 lakh, TNT 600i is priced at Rs 5.15 lakh, TNT 600 GT is priced at Rs 5.62 lakh TNT 899 is priced at Rs 9.48 lakh while the TNTR 1130 is priced at Rs 11.81 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Mumbai).
Shirish Kulkarni, chairman, DSK Motowheels said, “The country’s superbike industry has grown by leaps and bounds, giving us immense scope to tap this lucrative and increasing market.” Benelli will offer products in the engine range 300cc to 1130cc.
DSK Motowheels also has a similar tie up with Korean bike maker S&T Motors which produces bikes under the Hyosung brand. Sales of the Benelli range will take place through a separate line of dealerships. DSK also opened its first dealership in Mumbai today.
All the five bikes will be brought to India in completely knocked down (CKD) form. DSK is presently operating from an assembly facility from Wai, Maharashtra but sources say that due to the addition of Benelli to its range the company will start assembly at a larger facility at Kamshet, Maharashtra.
A variety of bikes of Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, Aprilia, Harley Davidson, KTM, Ducati and Hyosung will be Benelli’s competition in India.
