Even as Bajaj is gearing up to turn the 100-cc bike market upside down with its ‘all-new’ offering that hits the markets in the second quarter of this fiscal, competition is gearing up. TVS Motors, the country’s third-biggest motorcycle manufacturer, plans to launch its own bike on a completely new platform that will be positioned in the executive segment.
A senior official in TVS told FE that the company intends to launch a total of three bikes this fiscal, that includes two new bikes and one variant. “One of the bikes would be on an all-new platform that would be positioned in the executive segment,” he said. The bike would be launched in October to coincide with the festive season. Not surprisingly, this would come within weeks of the launch of Bajaj’s ‘breakthrough’ model.
According to market analysts, ever-increasing competition in the bike market — that is also witnessing a slower growth rate this fiscal — would result in companies introducing new models and variants to generate interest among customers. Bajaj hopes its new bike would help it “upgrade a large number of 100-cc” customers, currently going to rival Hero Honda, to its fold. On the other hand, market leader Hero Honda also plans to top its 8 launches last fiscal with new products, as it sees this as a key to holding on to its grip in the market. The official said apart from the new-platform bike, TVS would also introduce another new bike this fiscal that could hit the market within the next two months. “The company will also be launching a variant this year,” the official said.
Sales of TVS bikes rose 12% last fiscal at 8.44 lakh units against 7.52 lakh units in 2005-06 and the company hopes that the new bikes would help it maintain a double digit growth.
A senior official in TVS told FE that the company intends to launch a total of three bikes this fiscal, that includes two new bikes and one variant. “One of the bikes would be on an all-new platform that would be positioned in the executive segment,” he said. The bike would be launched in October to coincide with the festive season. Not surprisingly, this would come within weeks of the launch of Bajaj’s ‘breakthrough’ model.
According to market analysts, ever-increasing competition in the bike market — that is also witnessing a slower growth rate this fiscal — would result in companies introducing new models and variants to generate interest among customers. Bajaj hopes its new bike would help it “upgrade a large number of 100-cc” customers, currently going to rival Hero Honda, to its fold. On the other hand, market leader Hero Honda also plans to top its 8 launches last fiscal with new products, as it sees this as a key to holding on to its grip in the market. The official said apart from the new-platform bike, TVS would also introduce another new bike this fiscal that could hit the market within the next two months. “The company will also be launching a variant this year,” the official said.
Sales of TVS bikes rose 12% last fiscal at 8.44 lakh units against 7.52 lakh units in 2005-06 and the company hopes that the new bikes would help it maintain a double digit growth.