Bajaj bets on new Pulsar range to up market share in Gujarat

Betting on the demand for high-end bikes in semi-urban areas and smaller towns, Bajaj Auto, which launched its new Pulsar line up recently, expects to raise its market share in Gujarat to 25 per cent in FY16 from a current 15 per cent.

The company enjoys a 40 per cent market share in the sports bike segment, but its overall market share in the state which largely prefers commuter bikes (100-110 cc bikes) is around 15 per cent. According to Kamlesh Nankani, general manager, west of Bajaj Auto, of the overall 50,000-60,000 bikes that sell in Gujarat every month, nearly 80 per cent are commuter bikes. "In comparison, about 60 per cent of the monthly 75,000-80,000 bike sales in Maharashtra are commuter bikes. Gujarat is primarily a commuter bike market. But, it is gradually witnessing a traction for higher end bikes," he added.

Bajaj Auto is upbeat on the sales of its new Pulsar range from the fact that already its 220 cc Pulsar model is witnessing a 50 per cent growth rate across rural and urban areas. The bike is priced around Rs 90,000, and Nankani says that even rural areas have seen sufficient demand for it.

The new Pulsar range comprising the Pulsar AS200, Pulsar AS150 and Pulsar RS200 is priced between Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.3 lakh. The Pulsar RS200 (priced between Rs 1.2-1.3 lakh) has around 3,500 bookings across India since its launch in March. Of this, around 1300-1400 have come from western India, Nankani informed.

He added that it is taking the product to 50 new towns in India within this year and around ten new towns in western India.