Pulsar NS125 launch will give buyers a lower entry point in the Pulsar range which has become costlier due to the recent ABS ruling as well as mandatory 5-year insurance…
Going has been very tough for all the automobile manufacturers in India. Both car and 2-wheeler makers have suffered tremendously from the slowdown in the industry which is driven by a lot of factors. The upcoming BSVI mandate, which kicks in from April 2020, is further expected to dampen sales.
Two makers – Bajaj and TVS, have, kind of, bucked the trend and are doing relatively better than their counterparts. Though in the red this month, Bajaj says they have outgrown the ailing industry by 15-16 percent in the last three-four months.
In an interview to CNBC TV18, Rakesh Sharma, ED at Bajaj Auto, has said that in April and May, Bajaj’s retail in the domestic market was over the industry performance, however, June has been very sluggish, specially the second half. As a result, this lead has narrowed down last month which has meant that stocks are ‘very high’.
Bajaj has inventory levels of 7-8 weeks and the company would want them to reduce to 5-6 weeks. In terms of products, Bajaj launched two motorcycle variants in the entry level – the Platina 110 with H-gear, followed by the unofficial-so-far 2019 CT110.
To spruce up sales, Mr Sharma says that they will be introducing a new model in the mid-segment this month.
Pulsar NS125 Launch
This new motorcycle is expected to be a variant of some existing model in the 125 or the 150cc segment. There have been rumours of Bajaj considering introducing the Pulsar brand in the 125cc segment to counter the price hike necessitated by the recent ABS ruling. This has made buying the Pulsar costlier.
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Pulsar NS125 was recently launched in Colombia and this or some other model could be under works for the domestic market. A 125cc Pulsar could be a sportier offering in this segment. And since it will have the liberty to come with combined braking system (only motorcycles over 125cc are needed to be equipped with ABS), it can be priced at competitive levels and be a nice little entry option into the Pulsar fold…