MUMBAI: Suzuki Motorcycle India has appointed Salman Khan as its first brand ambassador for India.

Khan will spearhead the company‘s above-the-line and below-the-line initiatives. Said Suzuki Motorcycle India national marketing head Anu Anamika, "It was important to find a human face who can best portray and project our brand and product promise. Salman Khan is a passionate biker and a discerning brand endorser. We also find broad synergy in his social initiatives such as ‘Being Human‘."

The first campaign featuring Khan will be based on the recently launched mass market motorcycle, Hayate, that will hit the market shortly.

By 2013, Suzuki Motorcyle plans to increase its annual capacity from the current 360,000 units to 540,000 units while doubling the sales and service network in the next two years.

It is also expected to set up a second plant in Haryana at a cost of Rs 20 billion with a capacity for 2 million units. The plant will start its operations in 2014.