Bajaj Auto appears unfazed by the market slowdown that the two-wheeler segment mirrored in the first quarter of this fiscal.
The company is confident of registering a “double-digit growth” this year, despite the two-wheeler industry registering a six per cent growth last quarter. “We believe our new launches will keep our market share growing,” said Mr K. Srinivas, President (Two-wheelers).
He was in the city in connection with the launch of its new product, Pulsar 200NS, claimed to be the world’s first motorcycle to adopt triple spark engine technology in Andhra Pradesh. It is priced at Rs 86,754 ex-showroom in Hyderabad.
Last fiscal saw the sale of 10 million bikes across the country, with Bajaj Auto garnering a share of 2.5 million (or 25 per cent).
Mr Srinivas said that another trend was that the growth in the over-100 cc segment was quicker than the 100-cc category. The former had a share of 34 per cent in the overall bike sales last year, but grew at 18 per cent, while the latter reflected a growth rate of nine per cent.
“This trend is to our advantage, as we have a 40 per cent market share in this segment. The second and third-time bike owners are going in for the over-100cc and sports bikes,” he said. The firm is ramping up production of its new 200cc Pulsar product, as it intends to complete the national roll-out by August. “From September, we will begin to export the bike. Last year, we sold one million bikes overseas,” he added.