HMSI to launch 100 cc bike, plans to raise capacity

New Delhi, Mar 19: Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) today said it will line up more products this year, including a a bike in the 100 cc segment, and plans to reach a capacity of nine lakh units per annum by 2007-08, a growth of 27 per cent.

HMSI, a fully owned Indian subsidiary of Honda, has a current capacity of 7.2 lakh units per year.

''We plan to launch a new bike in the 100 cc segment by the year-end and will also introduce new products in the Indian market, including a scooter by the end of this calendar year,'' HMSI President and CEO Y Aoshima told reporters at the launch of the company's latest version of Unicorn.

Out of the nine lakh per annum capacity, 6.5 lakh units will be contributed by scooters and 2.5 lakh units by motorcyles, Mr Aoshima said.

The new model of Unicorn is priced at Rs 58,150 (ex-showroom Delhi) and will come in three colours -- red, silver and black -- to be available in the market from April 9.

The new Unicorn will be available in Pune, Kolkata and Bangalore at Rs 55,950, Rs 58,575 and Rs 55,555 respectively.

The company presently has 391 outlets which it will increase by 70 per cent to reach 663 outlets by 2008.

Ou of this, 626 will be on a dealership basis while 337 will be HMSI showrooms, he added.

UNI