Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto on Thursday (07 January) announced that it will be launching 3 new bikes in 2016 to maintain its leadership status in the entry level and sports level segment.
“With the introduction of new products such as the CT100 and the new Platina, we strengthened our position in the entry-level segment. In the sports segment we enhanced our leadership position through the launch of the Pulsar RS200, Pulsar AS 200 and 150 and the exciting Avenger Cruise 220 and Avenger Street 220 and 150," said Eric Vas, President (Motorcycle Business) at Bajaj Auto.
Though the two-wheeler industry faced a daunting year in 2015, Bajaj Auto has maintained its leadership position in the sports and entry-level segments. With 8 new launches last year, entry and sports segments together constitute 43 per cent of the industry and Bajaj is now the leader in this cluster with a 36 per cent market share.
Bajaj's current line-up is spread across three verticals - Entry, Executive and Sports, and the company has planned something special for each vertical.
Vas also informed that the executive segment will see an all-new product in the Indian market, which will be catering to the matured group among Bajaj's target audience. Vas also revealed that Bajaj is planning something special for the entry level motorcycle segment as well, possibly a power version of the CT100.
Bajaj Auto sold 6.81 lakh entry-level commuter motorcycles in the first nine months of the year as against 3.83 lakh last year, a growth of 77 per cent.
The company has sold 20,000 units of its recently launched Avengers. The company intends to increase the production capacity of Avengers to 30,000 units per month by March 2016.
BW Reporters
The author is Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld
