Suzuki is likely to announce later today that it will build its first motorcycle factory in China in just over a year's time. "We are in talks and will probably make an announcement by the end of today,'' said Yoichi Kojima, a Suzuki spokesman. Suzuki, based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is expanding motorcycle production in China and India, the world's two largest motorcycle markets, to meet demand in both countries and to help boost overall volume drives in Europe. The company currently makes motorcycles in China under a joint-venture with the Jinan Qingqi Suzuki Motorcycle Co. Visordown understands that Suzuki will produce 500,000 motorcycles a year at a second factory starting in early 2009.
Two other Chinese motorcycle makers, Nanjing Jincheng Motorcycle Co. and Dachangjiang Group Co. Ltd., also produce Suzuki's motorcycles in the country. Suzuki made 1.15 million motorcycles in China in the year ended on March 31 and sold 1 million units. Suzuki started selling motorcycles in India on its own from last year.
