Suzuki Bets High On Gixxer

Suzuki has decided to take a break from focussing itself on commuter based motorcycles and has said that they will instead be concentrating on the Gixxer brand, which has reaped profits for Suzuki India.



Suzuki had a long standing partnership with TVS in the early years and had developed in conjunction with the Indian manufacturer, bikes such as the Samurai, Shaolin and Shogun. Once TVS had decided to split from Suzuki and end the venture, Suzuki had to go home. It was only until 2007 that Suzuki had shown signs of re-entering India in the motorcycle segment but had started off with scooters. Several other products had been produced since then but wasn't quite up to the mark in terms of sales and customer choice. The GS150R, one of Suzuki India's first bikes to enter Indian roads, has a well refined engine and still attracts quite a number of buyers. However, it was with the launch of the Gixxer that Suzuki India had regained ground in the Indian market, owing to a good marketing strategy, competitive pricing and also Salman Khan being the brand ambassador for Suzuki's bikes.



The Gixxer 155 was received well and still attracts plenty of prospective buyers, mainly the younger generation. The Gixxer SF was globally launched in Japan, the headquarters of Suzuki and the bike was first sent straight to India and it has successfully captured the hearts of many of the rising number of motorcycle riders. The Gixxer SF is the fully faired version of the Gixxer 155 and also gets full racing livery.



Since the advent of the Gixxer brothers in the Indian market, Suzuki has now planned to focus in on developing the bikes and set it as a competitor amongst the quarter-litre crowd. Certainly, the 250cc segment is growing in popularity in India, with Bajaj and KTM making full use of the segment and also allowing buyers to choose from a range of engine displacements. However, sources have revealed that Suzuki would be initially experimenting with the 'would-be' Gixxer 250 and will later be contemplating on bringing in more products and choices. Suzuki also dismissed earlier rumours of it bringing the Hayabusa via the CKD route soon; there are no plans currently to assemble any premium performance bikes in India, it said. All said and done, Suzuki did not outright ignore the commuter segment; saying that regular updates will be implemented on current models.

Courtesy: Motorbeam