Kolkata, Aug 9 - A 29-year-old former banker has a dream: taking on the big guns of India's two-wheeler segment through his range of mobikes, not only on home turf but also in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
'We have just started and we will slowly pick up speed,' says Raja Bhadra, founder chairman and managing director of Vibgyor Vehicles, a motorcycle manufacturing company set up on an outlay of Rs.25-30 crore.
Bhadra's fledgling venture will pitchfork him against two-wheeler majors Hero Honda and Bajaj Auto, promoted by two of India's leading industry houses, apart from other established players.
Hero Honda, the market leader, posted a turnover of over Rs.12,500 crore last fiscal, while Bajaj earned around Rs.8,800 crore. Vibgyor's 'initial investment' of Rs.25-30 crore, including 'a small amount' as loan from Syndicate Bank, pales in comparison.
But Bhadra is unfazed. 'After two-three years, we will be competing with those brands in terms of sales and turnover,' he told IANS.
Vibgyor, which has its plant at Dhulagarh in Howrah near Bhadra's home base Kolkata, unveiled its first model, the 100 cc Gallop, in March -- targeting cities like Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
The bike will be launched in unspecified locations in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand in August, with Guwahati next in line.
Bhadra has also entered the Bangladesh market and is set to ride into Nepal, apart from planning exports to Sri Lanka and East Africa.
'We have already sent our first consignment to Bangladesh. We want to expand there,' Bhadra said.
'We also have plans to export to East Africa via Dubai and talks are on with companies in Sri Lanka.'
The company, part of Vibgyor Allied Industries that has diversified business interests, is also eyeing markets in Argentina and Peru.
Bhadra indeed has big plans. The 100 cc bike will be followed by a 150 cc (Shark) and 125 cc (Hunter) models later this year.
'The 150 cc variety is a premium category bike with which we plan to enter the tier I cities by November,' he said.