Yamaha R3 And MT-03 India Launch Less Than A Month Away!

For all those eagerly waiting for the Yamaha R3 and MT-03 to arrive in India, it seems like those days are very near. Yamaha has confirmed that the two 300cc Yamaha bikes will be launched in India on December 15, 2023. 

The last time when we got to see the motorcycles was when Yamaha showcased them during the MotoGP IndianOil Grand Prix of India weekend at BIC (Buddh International Circuit). They were seen in India for the first time at a dealer event in April 2023. Both the Yamaha R3 and MT-03 are powered by a 321cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin cylinder engine that produces 42PS and 29.5Nm in the R3, while it produces 0.1Nm more torque output in the MT-03. Interestingly, Yamaha is also organising a track day at BIC on the same day (For Yamaha R15, FZ, Aerox 155 riders), so it would be all the more exciting to witness the launch there.

Yamaha will be bringing in the R3 and MT-03 from Thailand via the CBU (Completely Built Unit) route initially. However, it may not be as expensive as importing the bikes from other countries like, say, Japan, thanks to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between the two countries, resulting in tax cuts. Once Yamaha sees enough demand, it may offer the two bikes via the CKD route (Completely Knocked Down) later. Both the Yamaha R3 and the MT-03 will not be sold in all Yamaha dealerships but only in a few select Blue Square dealerships.

With this in mind, we expect the Yamaha R3 to be priced around Rs 4 lakh and its rivals will be the KTM RC 390 and Kawasaki Ninja 300. The MT-03, on the other hand, is expected to be priced around Rs 3.80 lakh (all prices ex-showroom) and its rivals will be the KTM 390 Duke, Triumph Speed 400 and the TVS Apache RTR 310.