Kawasaki Could Discontinue Key Model In India: Here’s Why

Kawasaki is reportedly planning to discontinue two of its premium motorcycles from the Indian lineup after failing to comply with the new E20 fuel norms. The Kawasaki Eliminator could be the model that may soon exit the market.

Kawasaki Eliminator Could Soon Be Discontinued

The Japanese brand currently sells the Kawasaki Eliminator in India through the CBU (Completely Built Unit) route. This motorcycle carries a premium price tag in its 500cc retro segment. However, due to high pricing and tough competition, its demand has remained limited among Indian buyers.

With the Indian government pushing E20 fuel standards across the automotive sector, these motorcycles have reportedly failed to meet the new ethanol-blended fuel compliance requirements. According to several reports, Kawasaki could discontinue this model in India rather than updating for the new regulations.

The premium positioning, and lower sales numbers make it difficult for the brand to justify investing further in upgrading this motorcycle for E20 compatibility. It is powered by a 451cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine that produces 44.7 bhp and 42.6 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

The Kawasaki Eliminator is priced at Rs 6.16 lakh (ex-showroom) and it competes against the Royal Enfield Classic 650, Super Meteor 650, Interceptor 650 and the continental GT 650. While Kawasaki has already updated some of its other models for E20 compliance, there is still no update regarding the Eliminator.

Kawasaki has a local assembly facility in India where it manufactures models like the Kawasaki Ninja 650, Kawasaki Vulcan S, and Kawasaki Versys 650. These models were updated last year to comply with E20 fuel norms.

However, Kawasaki's 500cc models are facing stiff competition from brands like Royal Enfield, KTM, and Honda. By discontinuing this model, Kawasaki could reduce import costs and duties while focusing on stronger-selling products. It is important to note that the company has not officially confirmed the discontinuation yet, and an announcement is expected soon.