Reports suggest that Kawasaki, the Japanese motorcycle maker, is planning to bring CKD (completely knocked down) units of Z1000, and Ninja 1000 in India. This could significantly reduce the prices of both the bikes in the country. Both Kawasaki Z1000 and Kawasaki Ninja 1000 are 1043cc with a six-speed transmission. The pump capacity 140bhp rowed at 10,000 rpm and a torque of 111Nm at 7300rpm.
The company has denied all similar claims about the Z800 but chosen not to speak about the others. The price would have been cut down by Rs. 1 lakh, had that happened. The Z1000 and Ninja 1000 could see a drop of nearly Rs. 1.5 lakh.
“There was never a plan to have the Z800 go CKD. Kawasaki always decides the assembly of models that is reasonable under CKD regulations. We do not see any positive outcome to go CKD in India with the Z800,” said Tutaka Yamashita, MD of Kawasaki Motors.
The Indian automobile industry is heavily affected by the duty. The import duty on motorcycles is 100%. In such a situation if the government were to ease up the CKD laws, the impact could be monumental to the industry. But the potential threat to the local manufacturers is what keeps the laws to preside. The general market in the country is suited mostly for budget vehicles, the luxury of sports bikes is not entirely alien to the market, but hasn’t quite had a glorious past. In this scenario, moving production into the country could be a massive risk. Although the market is very price sensitive and could reap well.
However with the ‘Make in India’ campaign by PM Modi taking leaps and bounds, one wouldn’t be wrong in assuming that there is some truth in these rumors.
