Yamaha launches new scooter Alpha

With an aim to achieve the sales target of six lakh two-wheelers in the country, Japanese major Yamaha on Wednesday launched a new scooter variant worth ₹49,518 (ex-showroom Delhi).

The company aims to sell two lakh units of the newly launched scooter 'Alpha' per year in the country. The product mainly targets family usage.

The four-stroke 113cc engine scooter is manufactured in its Surajpur plant. The company claimed that the vehicle will give a mileage of 62 km per litre. It will be available in five colours including magenta.

'Overall, 2013 has been a fruitful year for the company as it witnessed a 33 per cent growth rate despite a sluggish market.

'In the domestic market, the company sold 4.6 lakh units last year and this year we are aiming to sell 6 lakh units (both bikes and scooter) and in order to achieve this aim we are launching the scooter - Alpha today,' Yamaha Motor president and CEO Hiroyuki Yanagi told reporters at the 12 Auto Expo.

He said that huge potential exists in India for the scooter market and 'we expect it to reach 3.6 million units in 2014'.

'India has a crucial role to play in our global Yamaha group and this year our focus is on three important strategies -- introduction of new models; intensifying sales and marketing capabilities, and after sales services; expanding market to untouched regions that includes rural India where the company has low presence,' he added.

On growth in rural areas, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd Vice President (sales and marketing) Roy Kurian said that although the product is mainly sold in urban areas, the company is getting a gradual response in sub-urban regions.

Kurian said that scooter sales are expected to register a growth of about 12-15% per annum in the country.

Yamaha has already invested ₹1,500 crore in its new plants which will operational by end of this year.