While the two-wheeler industry faced demand constraints and registered declining sales in FY 21-22, Suzuki Motorcycles India claims to be the only company that has registered double-digit growth for the year. However, due to ongoing supply chain disruptions, the Japanese automaker has not been able to meet the increase in domestic and overseas demand that they are experiencing.
Suzuki Hayabusa
Suzuki Motorcycles products currently participate in only 50 per cent of India’s two-wheeler industry. They have recorded a growth in market share of just 1.2 per cent in FY21-22, growing from 3.4 to 4.6 percent. This is mainly because the brand does not sell any 120-125cc commuter motorcycles in India, which make up almost half of the industry. 94 percent of Suzuki’s sales in the Indian market come from its scooter line-up such as the Access 125 and more recently the Avnis. On the flip side, the company does export 70 per cent of motorcycles to overseas markets. Suzuki doubled its exports from 70,000 to1,45,000 units in FY 21-22.
Speaking to TOI Auto in an exclusive interview, Suzuki Executive VP, Devashish Handa said, ‘Despite being restricted by semi-conductor supply issue, we delivered over 120 units of the Hayabusa in India in FY21-22. We also sold close to 60 units of the V-Strom 650 adventure bike in the same year. Big bikes are still a niche market in India but they are important from a performance point of view, to put across what we are capable of as a motorcycle manufacturer.’
Mr. Devashish Handa, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd.
While Handa hinted toward an expansion in Suzuki’s motorcycle portfolio in 2022. He also made it clear that the newer products will continue to cater to the middle-weight to high-end segment. Any new commuter motorcycles from Suzuki are clearly not on the cards for now.
On the manufacturing side, Suzuki has been operating at around 75 per cent of its total capacity which is over 1 million units per year. Supply chain disruptions were a major factor in reduced output at the automaker’s plant in 2021. Anticipating a semi-conductor shortage till at least the end of 2022, Suzuki seems to have taken a reserved stance on its overall growth in India for the time being, which seems in line with present industry scenarios.
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