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| Bajaj aims 1 mn-mark with Pulsar 135 LS launch |
| Press Trust of India / Bangalore Dec 23, 2009, 20:08 IST |
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Two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto today said it is eyeing 1 million sales a year from the Pulsar brand in the next fiscal with the launch of the Pulsar 135 LS.
"Currently, we sell 50,000 Pulsars a month and with the introduction of this variant we hope to sell 35,000 more per month, which will help in reaching our goal of 1 million a year in the coming financial year," Bajaj Auto General Manager (Marketing) Milind Bade told reporters here while launching Pulsar 135 LS.
The company is looking at increasing "the size of the pie" Bade said, adding that the new variant was expected to grow the sports bike market segment from 16 per cent to about 20-25 per cent by the end of next fiscal.
"Our vision is to make India a country of bikers from a country of commuters. The new Pulsar aims at accelerating the growth of the sports segment in the country, in line with the overall Pulsar strategy of broad basing performance," he said.
Pulsar 135 LS, is the world's first four valve DTS i-engine bike and the only light sports bike in the country, Bade said.
Today the sports category is fast catching up with the whole two-wheeler industry focusing on it, including competitors. All campaigns and positioning are on these lines, he said.
Ace driver Narain Karthikeyan handed over the keys of 2.5th million Pulsar to a customer today.
Bade said the company has a 48 per cent market share in the country and 52 per cent in Karnataka. The new variant was in line with the company's target of reaching the seven million sales-mark target in couple of years. Currently, it averages around 2.5 lakh bikes per month.
Positioned as a light sports bike for customers in the 18-30 age group, it is designed for those who aspired for a bike but found acquisition, operation cost and weight as barriers, Bade said.
On capacity augmentation, he said the current capacity is sufficient to meet demand. "In case there is more demand, we have capacity to meet the demand. Capacity will not be a constraint," he said.
The company would continue to operate from its three manufacturing plants in the country, he said.
State-wise the company sees good traction in Bengal, North East, Delhi and Karnataka in south.
To a question, he said 'Nano' would not impact two-wheeler sales but could impact second hand sales of four wheelers.
On the company's decision to exit scooter segment, he said, "We now want to seriously focus on bikes."
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