Indias second largest motorcycle manufacturer, Pune based Bajaj Auto is witnessing a gala time as the sales figures are soaring every month. In a bid to regain the lost momentum last year, Bajaj revamped their complete range of motorcycles in 2009 and declared that they would be focusing more on the sportier, bigger and more profitable ‘Discover’ and ‘Pulsar’ brands while XCD, Avenger and Platina brands would constitute their share in the overall sales. In keeping with the same policy they launched the smallest (capacity) variant of the Pulsar series, the first indigenous Indian 4 valve 135cc bike and named it as Pulsar 135 LS. And since its launch, Pulsars sales have been spiraling big time.
In January Bajaj managed to sell close to 72,000 Pulsars which is a record for Bajaj. Total two wheelers Bajaj managed to sell saw a mammoth growth of 111 percent which stood at 2,33,049 units as compared to 1,10,363 units sold in January 2009. Out of these, motorcycles almost the full chunk of it recording 2,32,939 units which was a handsome 112 percent growth over 1,09,666 units sold during the corresponding month last year. Total two and three wheelers sold by Bajaj in January 2010 also saw a rise of 101 percent where Bajaj registered 2,66,018 units as compared to 1,32,348 units sold in January 2009. Out of all the motorcycles Bajaj has for commercial sale, their premium brand Pulsar saw a huge demand and registered incredible figures of 71,970 units which comprised of Pulsar 150, Pulsar 180, Pulsar 220 and the latest entrant Pulsar 135LS.
The Discover brand maintained its substantial percentage in sales registering healthy 92,035 units which included the ‘fastest growing bike’ Discover 100 and Discover 135. Among these two brands Bajaj managed to grasp a healthy 70.4 percent of its sales which stood at 164005 units ensuring that Bajaj is right on the money paddle. All these figures made Bajaj’s market share to move up to 32 percent in January 2010 as compared to 21 percent during the same time last year. Exports also continued to exhibit positive trends registering 71,695 units which is 33 percent more compared to 54,027 units the company managed to export last year in January. Eating into this much share of the market despite concentrating more on the “comparatively-lesser-selling” premium segment bikes gives us a glimpse that the average mentality of an Indian is growing and he is now ready to buy bigger and better stuff if provided at competitive prices.
Recently Bajaj revamped their largest selling Pulsar 150 with more power, bigger 29mm carburetor along with a few technical as well as cosmetic changes. They also launched a naked version of India’s fastest bike, Pulsar 220 DTSi. Many new surprises from Bajaj are bound our way in times to come; be ready to witness some fine motorcycling pleasures from the domestic as well as the international market via its collaborations with Kawasaki and KTM and its internal Research and Development team!
– Saad Khan
