Benelli TNT 135 India launch plans shelved

A month ago, we talked about DSK Benelli postponing the launch of TNT 135 due to lack of customer acceptance. But now, we have official word from the top boss of the company that it won’t launch the TNT 135 in India.

As per their market research, a few customers did find the TNT 135 appealing, however, the price expectation from the targeted customers is quite unrealistic. The company won’t be able to launch the TNT 135 at a price point where the bike could sell well, primarily due to the costs accrued in fitting it up with a trellis frame, fuel-injection system, superior brakes and suspension setup. 

"We did market research and a lot of people loved the product, especially the North Eastern market. The consumers found the engine capacity, the cycle parts and the overall design quite appealing. But when it comes to the price point, the product isn't there yet. People started comparing it with the Honda Navi and it is not possible to launch this product at that price. Even if the TNT 135 is made in India, it is very difficult to price it aggressively." said Shirish Kulkarni, chairman, DSK Motowheels.