Are Superbikes Getting Cheaper? » MotorOctane

The historic FTA deal between the EU and India sounds like a dream to most petrol heads. And per rumours, the dream of owning a superbike has never been closer, thanks to lower import costs. But is there any substance to this rumour? Today, we will debunk the myths and set the facts straight regarding this FTA deal. 
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Does the FTA Affect Bikes?

The news about the FTA deal being applied to motorcycles is just a rumour till now. Since cars are getting cheaper, people assume that the same will happen with motorbikes as well. People are building dreams of owning a superbike based on such assumptions. It is important to note that the government has yet to issue a statement on the motorcycle tariff cuts. They haven’t explicitly commented on import costs for CBU motorbikes. While it cannot be ruled out that bikes may experience this tariff leeway, you shouldn’t trust these rumours just yet.  

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What if the FTA rules Are Changed?

Even in the hypothetical case that the government implements this tariff cut on bikes, there is still a big issue. Most Italian manufacturers have manufacturing plants in Southeast Asia. For logistical reasons, a majority of the Indian CBU superbikes are believed to be imported from these plants. For instance, prominent brands like BMW Motorrad and Ducati have plants in South America and Southeast Asia. Furthermore, manufacturers like Aprilia already has tie ups with major manufacturers to produce in india.

Moreover, this deal is limited to the European Union, meaning popular brands like Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Honda miss out on this advantage. Furthermore, for automobiles, this tariff cut applies only to cars costing over 15,000 euros (around Rs 16-17 lakh). If the same exemption were made on bikes, the narrow list would get even narrower. 

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So, No Price Cuts?

Yep, no price cuts as of yet. The government has not yet unveiled any future plans for cost cuts on bikes. Moreover, no credible sources have reported that we could see this deal in the near future. While the official information regarding the superbike import is yet to be known, here is what we can expect if the deal for tariff cuts on superbikes does go through. 

On top of the tariff cuts on CBU cars, the government has also stated that tariffs on imported automobile parts are set to be nullified over the next 5-10 years. If this same case applies to motorbikes, it could be positive news for brands like BMW Motorrad and Aprilia, which have manufacturing plants in India. This move encourages manufacturers to manufacture in India.

Furthermore, such a deal would prompt European manufacturers to bring a wider variety of bikes to India to cater to specific niches, as the risk is minimal. 

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What If?

These high-end superbikes could get cheaper if the tariff cuts are applicable on 

• Aprilia RS 660, Tuono 660, Tuareg 660, RSV4
• Ducati Panigale V4, Multistrada V4, Diavel V4 and Streetfighrer V4 (solely built in Italy)
• KTM 890 Duke R, 1390 Duke R, 1290 Adventure S, KTM 890 Adventure R.

However, do not get excited at the idea of owning a Ducati superbike on a budget, as of yet. There have been no official announcements and no concrete rumours either. The internet has been flooded with false information that superbikes could get cheaper. Do not believe such baseless news, and you should wait until the official statement to get your hopes up. 

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