Bajaj Auto saw its worst in the market last quarter,
firstly due to the clearance of discounted BS III vehicles by competitors when
its models were already BS IV compliant, and then postponement of purchase due to
GST implementation. As a result, the market share has reduced from 20% in the
preceding quarters to 15%.
In a bid to regain its lost market share and grow
even further, Bajaj Auto will launch a slew of new products by December,
reports The Economic Times. The company has seven model lines: CT, Platina,
Discover, V, Avenger, Pulsar and Dominar. Rajiv Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Auto, has said
that the company will launch new products across the model lines by December
2017.
Mr. Bajaj has not revealed further details on the
launch plans. So, it is unknown whether the new products are new engine/body
style variants, special colour scheme variants or both. It is likely that one
or more of the new products are special editions. Consider the Avenger Cruise
220 for instance, launched in the ‘Desert Gold Edition’ in May 2016.
The Bajaj Pulsar line expanded this month with the
launch of the Pulsar NS160. The next launch in the Bajaj Pulsar range we can
think of is the Bajaj Pulsar NS 200 FI, sold simply as the ‘New Bajaj Pulsar NS
200‘ in Turkey. Its more capable 199.5 cc engine produces 24.48 PS at 9,750 rpm
and 18.6 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm. It gets a larger, 300 mm front disc brake,
along with ABS.
In the past, the media has speculated on a scrambler
variant based off the Bajaj Dominar and a larger displacement Bajaj Avenger.
With the launch of new variants across its two-wheeler portfolio, Bajaj Auto
aims to grow its market share to 26%.
