For the first time in more than 25 years, Japans Kawasaki Heavy Industries will introduce a high-powered motorcycle in the Indian market with the help of its Indian partner and long-time collaborator, Bajaj Auto.
In a little over six months, Bajaj, the country's second biggest two-wheeler maker, has sold over 500 units of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, price Rs 2.69 lakh (the 269,000 same as a Maruti Suzuki Alto car).
Kawasaki have pulled out of motorcycling's MotoGP world championship as part of the company's efforts to cut spending amid the global financial crisis. Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd on Friday became Japan's latest motorsport casualty after a trio of the country's carmakers announced similar plans last month.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a long time collaborator of Bajaj Auto, has announced that the company will launch high performance bikes by mid-2008.
With land acquisition completed and infrastructure work streamlined, India's bullet train dreams are slowly, but finally, inching closer to reality.
Japan will offer more than $8.11 billion in loans to construct India's high speed rail network.
PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart are likely to sign several agreements, including on civil nuclear cooperation. Both leaders are also likely to discuss defence cooperation, including joint maritime exercises between Japan, India and the United States.
The lumbering Ambassador and Fiat cars, it ruled the Indian roads throughout the 1970s, while the Rajdoot and Jawa as well as the old Royal Enfield motorcycles trailed far behind.
Indian bikers have been having a lot of attention lately. The latest to join the wagon is the Kawasaki Versys.
'The politician in him saw to it that the foundation stone was laid in Ahmedabad in the run-up to the assembly election in Gujarat in 2017.' 'But the statesman in him also wants it to be his legacy.'
'Modi and Abe are working seriously for India-Japan bonhomie to grow stronger.' 'It is a win-win situation for both countries and the future look promising,' says Rajaram Panda, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations India Chair Visiting Professor at Reitaku University, Japan.
