Bajaj eyeing 25 new export markets this fiscal

Bajaj Auto is looking to export its motorcycles and three-wheelers to over 25 new markets as the company plans to scale up overseas shipments during the current financial year.
Besides, the company, which today expanded its Pulsar range of bikes with the launch of AS 150 and AS 200 models, also plans to launch the Pulsar 400 during this fiscal.
"For motorcycles this year we are looking at 14 new markets and for three wheelers about 12-13 markets all over the world...Between our motorcycles and three wheelers about 25 markets that we have chance of entering this financial year," Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj told reporters here.

The company had exported 1.8 million vehicles to over 40 countries in the last fiscal, he added.
When asked about the volatility in various export markets during the last fiscal, including Nigeria, Bajaj said the situation is nothing new as the company keeps encountering such issues on a regular basis.
"Sometimes the problem is in Asia...Sometimes there is currency problem in Latam, last quarter we had very tough time in Nigeria so this happens. Despite this situation our exports have grown 14 per cent over previous year," he said.

Elaborating further he said: "I think we have developed such large business that it's inherently derisked. So when we are exporting to so many markets even if 2-3 markets don't perform well the company manages to move ahead," Bajaj said.

For the 2014-15 fiscal, the company's overall exports rose 14 per cent to 1,806,078 units, compared to 1,583,935 units in 2013-14.
Commenting on the Pulsar 400, Bajaj said: "We would like to see the 400 to debut as power cruiser as we had shown in the last Auto Expo... Also stated to be launched some point in this financial year. So when that happens the Pulsar 400 would be the next flagship of the Pulsar brand".
Besides, the Pulsar Adventure Series comprising AS 200 and AS 150, the Pune-based company's Pulsar range comprises Pulsar 220, Pulsar NS 200, Pulsar RS 200, Pulsar 180, 150 and 135.

When asked about the rural sales, Bajaj Auto President (Motorcycles Business) Eric Vas said that the unseasonal rain and crop damage will impact the rural income somewhat and there will be an impact on the industry.
"In the rural market I suspect this rainfall, will take away around 5-6 basis points of growth that would have potentially come," he added.
As far as the urban market is concerned there won't be any significant impact, Vas said.
"Having said so we are entering wedding season from tomorrow and we do expect that it will lift the sales from what we have seen in the last 2-3 months," he added.