Ducati plans to setup manufacturing plant in India at Greater Noida

Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati is reportedly planning to widen its India operations by setting up a manufacturing unit near Delhi. Ducati India currently imports its entire motorcycle range from Thailand facility as Completely Built Units (CBU).

The company is looking for a 100 acres land to set up a manufacturing unit in Greater Noida reports Times of India. Representatives of the company are reportedly met senior officials of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) on November 11. Deepak Agarwal, chief executive officer (CEO), GNIDA has informed the expense and availability of land in Greater Noida. "They will now submit a formal proposal to us within this month before we take the proposal further," TOI quoted Agarwal as saying.

GNIDA, Greater Noida's advantages in terms of connectivity, accessibility are reportedly prompts Ducati to setup unit there. If the proposal goes as planned, Ducati will join other premium motorcycle manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Triumph, KTM, Aprilia, Benelli and Kawasaki which have plants in India.

The local assembly or production will invite tax reduction that will aid Ducati to sell its motorcycles more affordable in India. It will also ease the pressure of Thailand unit that produces Ducati motorcycles primarily for Asian markets.

It is too early to comment on which models Ducati will manufacturer in India. Most probable candidate is the Scrambler range. Ducati India currently sells Scrambler 803cc versions (Icon, Urban Enduro, Full Throttle, Classic). Most popular 400cc Sixty2 version is not on sale due to difficulties in pricing it profitable way. With the local production, Scrambler Sixty2 may finally come to Indian shore.