Naza aims to sell 30,000 'kapcai' this year

PETALING JAYA: Naza Group expects to sell 30,000 units of "kapcai" or underbone motorcyles this year and increase the figures by more than double to 70,000 units in 2013.

The 2012 targeted number will be equivalent to a 7.5 per cent share of the underbone segment, Naza group joint-executive chairman Datuk Wira SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin said.

For 2013, the 70,000 units would equal to a 25 per cent share, Faisal said at the launch of Naza Bikes Sdn Bhd's new NZ125R underbone motorcycle here yesterday.

He also said that Naza Bikes plans to introduce two "non-kapcai" models in the second quarter of the the year.

The average market for the underbone category for the past three years was 400,000 units. About 75 per cent of the market was dominated by Honda and Yamaha.

"These two brands have been present since 1960s. The designs and technology of the motorcycles produced emphasise on the current needs of the market.

"These two factors were the key success for the Japanese brands in all over the world.

"The launch of the NZ125R is the first efforts by Naza Bikes to be a serious contender in the underbone category locally and internationally," Faisal said.

Since its inception in 2003, Naza Bikes has launched 14 different motorcycle models and was the first local company to locally assemble affordable big motorcycles within the 250cc-and-650cc range at its plant in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Faisal said the NZ125R was fully designed by Naza Bikes' engineers. It took 18 months to be completed, with 35 per cent of the components produced locally.

"The percentage will be further increased to 60 per cent in the coming 24 months," he added.

The NZ125R sells at a basic price of RM3,788 each. Plus a few hundred ringgit of other charges and fees including road tax and insurance, the on-the-road- price is RM4,256.

It will be available at selected dealers' showrooms from this weekend.

The NZ125R is a four-stroke air-cooled engine that complies with the Euro 2 emission standard.

Its highlights include an economical fuel consumption of up to 65km per litre at a speed of not more than 80km/hour and an electrical power point that makes it the only underbone in the market to offer such feature.

Faisal added that the NZ125R can save up to RM500 per year on fuel consumption.