KTM International Trading, distributor of Benelli bikes in Nepal, has rolled out three new models in the market. According to the company, the 150cc TNT 15 is priced at Rs230,000; the 150cc TNT 150i is priced at Rs315,000 and the 250cc BN 251 bike is priced at Rs520,000. All three models come with a two-year engine warranty.

Shaswat Rijal, sales and marketing manager at Benelli, said the company sold 72 units of the TNT 15 within four days, and the TNT 150i is almost sold out. He said that they had sold seven units of the BN 251.

The TNT 150i features electronic fuel injection and light emitting diode lights with an aggressive design, he said. The BN 251, an upgraded version of the TNT 251, comes with a design that features a liquid-cooled engine and disk brakes with ABS system. It delivers better mileage. “The newly launched models are stylish and come with powerful engines. They are affordable as well,” KTM International Trading said.

The company offers various bike segments ranging from 135cc to 600cc. Rijal said the company planned to unveil two more new models by mid-2019. KTM International Trading introduced Benelli bikes around four years ago, and has more than 2,000 Benelli customers till date. Benelli is an Italian motorcycle brand founded in 1911. Benelli motorcycles are created to meet the requirements of every rider, even the most demanding, and ensure the ultimate riding experience and comfort, the company said in a press statement.

Sales of premium bikes in the country have been gradually picking up in recent years. The performance offered by such bikes is one of the main reasons for the rise in popularity among customers, said domestic two-wheeler dealers. According to the sellers, the market for premium bikes (up to 150cc capacity) is growing at the rate of 7 percent annually. They now command 45 percent of the total bike market in Nepal, up from 38.3 percent in the fiscal year 2017-18. At the same time, sales of premium plus bikes (above 150cc) slowed to 24.1 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year from a 27.1 percent growth in 2017-18.

Dealers attribute the slowed growth to higher excise duties on bikes which resulted in their prices rising considerably. Two-wheeler dealers expect sales of the premium plus segment to reach 28.5 percent by the end of the current fiscal year.