TL;DR
Suzuki plans to launch new 350-500cc motorcycles in India, aiming to compete with dominant brands like Royal Enfield, KTM, and Triumph in the mid-weight segment.
Suzuki is preparing to enter India's highly competitive 350-500cc motorcycle segment, a territory currently dominated by Royal Enfield, KTM, and Triumph. The Japanese brand plans to launch multiple new models in this middleweight category, signaling an aggressive strategy to capture a significant market share in India and other key Asian and European markets.
This move will place Suzuki in direct competition with established players like Royal Enfield, which has held an undisputed leadership position in this segment for years with popular models such as the Classic 350, Bullet 350, Hunter 350, and Meteor 350. Triumph's 400cc bikes, in partnership with Bajaj Auto, also hold a notable market share, adding to the fierce competition Suzuki will face.
Industry reports suggest that Suzuki might utilize a slightly detuned version of its existing 398cc single-cylinder engine for these upcoming 350cc bikes, which already meets Euro 5+ emission standards. There is speculation that Suzuki could leverage India as a production hub for these middleweight motorcycles to capitalize on lower manufacturing costs and enhance affordability, a crucial factor for success in this segment.
