Bajaj Auto Weighing Bikes Below Rs 30,000 Range

The Pune-based Bajaj Auto, having launched the Boxer AT at Rs 32,500 (ex-showroom) recently, is now working towards introducing a bike in the sub-Rs 30,000 range.

The company, which currently offers two variants of the Boxer -- Boxer AT and CT -- with a price difference of Rs 2,000, is now planning to extend its range in the entry level segment.

Rajiv Bajaj, president of Bajaj Auto told Business Standard, "We are working on models costing below Rs 30,000. I am sure even my competitors are working on similar models."

He, however, did not divulge details about the models. Auto analysts, however, said the company will have to develop such a product by itself, and not bring it from the range of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with which Bajaj has a license agreement.

"For a self-developed product, Bajaj Auto will not have to pay royalty to Kawasaki, thereby bringing down the price. Since Bajaj Auto has already started developing its own range of products in the form of Pulsar, it is likely to target the entry-level segment next, where the volumes are the highest," said an analyst at a local brokerage firm.

Currently, Bajaj Auto sells around 42,000 motorcycles a month, of which a lion's share comes from the Boxer.

Among its other products, the company offers the Caliber and the Caliber Croma in the mid-segment, and the Eliminator in the premium segment.

The company is also planning to launch the Bajaj Aspire, a bike in the mid-end segment targeted at the western and southern states.

Also, Bajaj Auto is planning to launch a new variant of its 4-stroke scooter, the Legend, in September this year.

The Legend NXT, Bajaj said, will be offered with two engine options -- both four-stroke and two-stroke -- though the basic body styling will remain the same for both variants.

The company is also looking at exports of the Legend NXT (4-stroke) to the US, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bajaj Auto USA.