Bajaj Auto, the country’s second-biggest maker of two-wheelers, says it will use its famed digital twin-spark plug technology in its compact car, due for launch in 2011.
However, the planned joint venture to make the car is yet to be established.
The Pune-based company’s strategy for the car is centred on more mileage than its competitors within the same price bracket. According to earlier reports, the car, code-named ULC, is aimed to squeeze out 30 km to a litre of fuel and priced at under Rs 2 lakh.
A Maruti 800 delivers about 18-20 km to a litre, while the Tata Motors’ Nano can give up to 20-22 km per litre under city driving conditions with the air conditioner switched off.
The low-cost car joint venture, where Baja Auto is to have haf the stake and the balance equally by French car maker Renault and Japanese auto giant Nissan, is yet to be formed.
On being asked if the patented digital twin spark technology (DTS-i) by Bajaj Auto will be seen in the passenger car as well, Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, said, “Yes. We will see the technology carried over to the car in all relevant aspects.”
The DTS-i technology was first seen in the Pulsar range of premium bikes in 2002-03. Thereafter, following subsequent modifications, Bajaj developed two variations called Digital Twin Spark Swirl Induction (DTS-Si) and Digital Twin Spark Fuel Injection (DTS-Fi). Each concentrates on fuel efficiency and performance.
The proposed car’s developmental process is slow, as both Renault and Nissan, who have car manufacturing experience spanning decades, have been severely impacted due to the general recession. Bajaj Auto, however, says any financial or other constraints its partners might have will have no cascading effect on the project. “Both Renault and Nissan have ventures in India, in addition to the one with us. They may have their own set of problems, yet they have expressed complete support to us for the project. They are committed and we are keeping to the earlier target of roll-out by 2011,” added Bajaj.
A couple of months earlier, Bajaj officials said the branding of the ULC was yet to be worked out by all the three companies and this has caused delay in the project.
