The Italian bike maker, Benelli, has merged with the Pune-based DSK Motowheels to sell its range of high-performance superbikes. After DSK showcased the Benelli's models in India, many auto enthusiasts postponed their plans for getting their hands on a new bike for new months. As per the recent reports, the company will start booking the bikes from mid-February, and the deliveries will begin in the month of March.
The ex-showroom (Pune) price of the bikes will start from Rs. 3.5 lakhs and will go up to Rs. 14 lakhs. The cheapest bike will be the TNT 300, while the top end model will be TNT 1130. The Italian company has carefully chosen the line-up, which includes TNT 300, TNT 600(I and GT), TNT 1130R and TNT 899. The TNT 300 and TNT 600 will be brought down from China as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) units, while the TNT 1130R and TNT 899 will be imported from Italy, and will be later assembled in the company-owned plant in Pune near Wai.
The company is setting up dealership across the country right now and is said to have 20 showrooms till the end of 2015. Also, the dealership count will increase to 40 by the end of 2016. The company expects to compete with the existing superbike manufacturers like Kawasaki and Suzuki in the Indian auto market. Benelli is confident about selling more than 3000 bikes by the end of this year, depending upon the growing interest and demand of the superbikes. Interestingly, superbikes own 20 per cent share of the Indian market.
