Who will break the mold?

I met up with a few of the Indian motorcycle industry greats from the fourth estate and got talking. While trying to look informed and a man of considered, and weighty, opinion, I grasped that the discussion was not only about motorcycles, but also about what was going to happen to us in the coming days in India.

The consensus was that the Industry was in a product innovation slump of sorts. The picture I get is of a herd wildebeest, all gathered at the edge of what appears to be a deep stream. Every now and then, one of them takes a brave step forward. Okay, just shuffles forward. And then, someone else outdoes him by stepping another few millimeters into the water. At this rate, it will take years for the herd to get across.

So who's gonna break the mold? I must explain at this point that I am using the American spelling of mould because I somehow associate 'mold' more with the green stuff that grows on old break. Although both mold and mould mean format also. But as usual, I digress.

So who's gonna break the mold? The unanimous agreement was that Yamaha would break the mold. As an aside, the Yamaha shutting shop was ascribed to some jackass who got left out in the restructuring or some similar thing and decided to create a bit of a scene for the company. I am wagging one finger at this person (whoever he is), and you should be able to guess which one's wagging. Anyway, I digress some more. Yamaha, the discussion highlighted, is the company that has the means and the motive to break said mold. They are desperate enough to look at borrowing something spectacular from their considerable, formidable international line up and the new management is certainly not shy. The other prospect is Suzuki. It's a dimmer prospect, but if their first products' reception is anything to go by, they'll be desperate soon too. Which essentially, also says (without saying) that Honda, Hero Honda and surprise, Bajaj will not break the mold. Inch up, inch up will primarily remain their game unless someone else, yes, breaks the mold and gets them to change strategies.

And now that we're on the subject. The other thing that became clear is that Bajaj's product strategy is good, but in the long run, their quality levels, especially when you talk of mechanical bits needs to climb steeply and fast. I believe an or else was leveled... on behalf of the customers. TVS, on the other hand, were patted on the back for being a methodical manufacturer. They are admittedly a bit slow, but the group agreed that this would pay off in the long run. Interesting discussion, I gathered, so I thought I'd post it up.

More posts on Yamaha here