Bajaj Auto’s newly launched 100cc motorcycle Discover DTS-Si has turned around the sales curve of the company, with the Pune-based two-wheeler firm logging its highest monthly sales in over 22 months.
The company, which is also India’s second biggest two-wheeler maker, stated that sales of both motorcycle and automatic scooters rose by 14 per cent to 249,795 units in September, up from 217,365 units recorded during the same month last year. Bajaj Auto had last crossed the 250,000-unit mark in October 2007.
The figure for September includes export numbers, too, as the company does not provide separate numbers for domestic and export segments.
Bajaj Auto decided to make a renewed splash in the 100cc segment with the launch of the Discover DTS-Si, after sales from its executive and premium segment (125cc and above) came under intense competition due to a rise in demand for the models of Hero Honda, Yamaha and TVS Motors. Bajaj Auto General Manager Milind Bade said: “We had decent bookings even during the inauspicious ‘Shradh’ period, with customers ready to take delivery of the vehicle after a few days. The industry will hold onto its buoyancy even in the second half of this year, especially because the base of last year was very low.”
According to him, there is a waiting period of two weeks and above on Bajaj bikes and three-four weeks on the 180 and 220 Pulsars, mainly in metros like Mumbai.
“The momentum of growth will be maintained in the coming months as the well,” he further added.
Bajaj had, in October 2006, announced a tactical exit from the 100cc (entry level) segment, stating that no product development initiatives will take place in this segment. The company also sells the Platina 100 in this segment, which accounts for almost 75 per cent of the total motorcycle market in India.
“Bajaj sold 94,000 Discovers, including 71,000 units of the newly-launched Discover DTS-Si. The month also witnessed the sale of 56,000 Pulsars. Thus, 60 per cent of Bajaj motorcycles sold in this month belong to the more profitable category of the ‘bigger and sportier’ Pulsar and Discover brands,” the company stated in a press release.
Sales of three-wheelers also showed an upward climb with a 16 per cent increase. The company sold 31,121 units of three-wheelers during the same month as against 26,887 units sold in the corresponding month a year ago.
Bajaj is also gearing up to launch the Kawasaki Ninja 250 R, a high-performance premium bike from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan’s fourth-largest bike maker and technical partner of Bajaj Auto.
Pricing details of the bike, which would be launched on Wednesday, are yet to be revealed by the company but experts say that since the bike will be assembled at the Chakan facility of Bajaj Auto, the company will have a pricing advantage.
