End of road for Kawasaki-Bajaj bikes on 1 April

On 1 April, the eight-year-old alliance between Bajaj auto and Kawasaki will come to an end.

"Kawasaki and Bajaj have mutually arrived at an amicable decision to end their alliance in India from April 1, 2017," the automaker said in a statement.

Bajaj Auto has had an alliance with Kawasaki for the sale and after-sales service of Kawasaki motorcycles through its Probiking network since 2009.

With effect from 1 April, 2017 the sales and after-sales service of Kawasaki motorcycles - including existing customers - will be provided by India Kawasaki Motors, which is a 100-per cent subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Japan established in India in July 2010.

In a statement, Bajaj said that their alliance is only coming to an end for the Indian market. The two companies "will continue to maintain their co-operative relationship across the rest of the world for current and future businesses".

Bajaj Auto has converted its Probiking network into KTM dealerships. The Bajaj-KTM partnership launched its first co-developed product, the 200 Duke in 2012.

Over the last 5 years, KTM achieved a CAGR of 48 per cent and sales volume in FY17 is estimated at 37,000 units.

Now the Duke & RC models, available in 5 SKUs, are offered through the over 300 KTM dealerships in India. Going forward, Bajaj intends to focus on the KTM brand.