Kawasaki India denies Z800 CKD rumour

It was long rumoured that Kawasaki is planning to assemble the Z800 in India. The Kawasaki Z800 is among the highest selling motorcycle for the Japanese two-wheeler giant in the Indian two-wheeler market. Currently the bike is imported as a CBU (completely built unit) from Thailand. Since India and Thailand have a trade agreement, the Kawasaki Z800 doesn’t attract similar taxes to a CBU bike landing on our shores from Europe, Japan or USA. Despite the above, it was rumoured that Kawasaki will assemble the Z800 in India to further reduce its pricing. Dismissing the above speculation Kawasaki India has sent out a press release stating that they have no plans to assemble the Kawasaki Z800 in India.

In the official statement issued, Yutaka Yamashita, Managing Director of India Kawasaki Motors said, “There was never a plan to have the Z800 go CKD. Kawasaki always decides the assembly of models that is reasonable under CKD regulations. We do not see any positive outcome to go CKD in India with the Z800”. 

The Kawasaki Z800 made its debut in the Indian market in 2014 and at that time it was the cheapest in-line four cylinder motorcycles on sale in our country. Pricing for the Z800 was revised last year with the Japanese two-wheeler giant announcing a price cut of Rs 55,000. Te above was achieved due to cost reduction at its Thailand manufacturing facility. At the heart of the Z800 sits an 806cc, liquid-cooled, in-line four mill producing 113 PS at 10,200 rpm and 83.0 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, which is mated to a six-speed transmission. This means that the Kawasaki Z800 has an advantage of 34PS and 30Nm over the Triumph Street Triple which is its arch nemesis.