Benelli India leaves DSK Motowheels to join hands with the Mahavir Group - Report

13/07/2018 - 16:31 Benelli TRK 502, DSK-Benelli Ajinkya Lad

Benelli India has partnered with Hyderabad-based Mahavir Group and has parted ways with DSK Motowheels, reports Zigwheels.

Stefano Mitchelloti Technical Director at Benelli, Mr. Stefano Lago After sales Benelli, Me. DS Kulkarni Chairman DSK Group, Mr. Sirish Kulkarni Chairman DSK Motorwheels and Mr. Frank Zhaung — DS Kulkarni, Chairman DSK Group, and Sirish Kulkarni Chairman DSK Motorwheels, with Stefano Mitchelloti, Technical Director at Benelli, while announcing the DSK-Benelli partnership in 2014.

Benelli entered the Indian market in October 2014 with a partnership with DSK Motowheels, which is part of the now beleaguered DSK Group. The DSK-Benelli partnership found some success in the domestic market during their tenure by offering a range of high-performance motorcycles at accessible prices.

The venture had a pan-India presence of 25 sales and service outlets. Benelli India has a total of five motorcycles currently on sale in India, which includes the TNT 25, TNT 300, 302R, TNT 600 GT, and the TNT 600i. The company also had the TNT 899 and TNT R in India; however, the company had discontinued both the bikes as a result of the shift to BSIV emission norms.

The existing venture had plans to launch a new 400 cc KTM 390 Duke rival, alongside the Benelli Leoncino and the TRK 502 in the domestic market. However, these launch plans are postponed indefinitely for now. The adventure-touring segment is on the cusp of a significant product onslaught like BMW G 310 GS, KTM 390 Adventure, etc. and, the Benelli TRK 502 could be a venerable candidate in the middle-weight segment.

Benelli, as per Zigwheels, has shifted its base from Pune to Hyderabad with the new partners Mahavir Group. The Mahavir Group is an existing dealer of Benelli India in Hyderabad and is in the automotive business since 1998.

Mahavir Group is a prominent automotive dealer in Hyderabad and Vijayawada, and the first entity to open a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Hyderabad. Moreover, the group has authorized dealerships of Skoda, Isuzu, and Indian Motorcycles in Hyderabad as well as Vijayawada. The company’s new partner is said to be in the process of setting up the needed infrastructure, including an assembly plant in the vicinity of Hyderabad, before the new venture commences sales.

Benelli TRK 502 side at Auto Expo 2016 — The DSK-Benelli Group was expected to launch the TRK 502 (pictured) and the Leoncino scrambler in India in 2018.

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With the new management in place, we are hopeful that the TRK 502 and Leoncino will see the light of day, sooner than later. We are awaiting a statement from the group and its strategy for the Indian market. That said, there is no word on the fate of existing dealers or expanding its footprint across the country.

[Source - Zigwheels.com]