The group which is foraying into the motor cycle segment is planning to bring out its 100cc, 125cc and 150cc and other higher capacity four-stroke mobikes. The 100cc mobike would be launched by September-October this year. It has already launched K4-100, a four-stroke step through bike and 40,000 vehicles are already on road.

The tie-up with the Korean company is for models higher than 150 cc, Motwani said. The group has already entered into agreements with two Taiwan companies for engine development and design for its mobikes.

By entering intomotorcycle segment, the group will have presence in all two-wheeler categories viz., mopeds, scooters, scooterettes and motorbikes. It is also concentrating on building the `Kinetic' brand and hopes to achieve a turnover of Rs 1000 crore in 1999-2000 as against Rs 800 crore in 1998-99. Motwani also announced that two K4-100s had completed the entire stretch between Kashmir and Kanyakumari, a distance of 3600 km by using only 38.76 litres of petrol only.

This, she said, makes the vehicle the most fuel efficient one with a mileage of 92.67 km per litre under road conditions. She also said that during the entire trip there was no breakdown and no spares were consumed. The rally which started in Kashmir on June 15 reached Kanyakumari on June 28.

No move to merge group firms

Kinetic group has decided not to merge its group companies. The group comprises Kinetic Engineering, Kinetic Motor company and a few finance companies. It had commissioned a study in November last after they bought over the stakeof Honda Motor company in Kinetic Motor Company on the benefits of merging the companies. The study by Arthur Anderson revealed that there would be no great benefits accrued as the operations are administered through three operational business units cut across these companies. Plans are afoot to commence a study on looking at operational efficiency, organisational structure etc, she added.