Hero-Proton talks on crack!

The anticipated business talks between Hero group in India and the Malaysian car maker Proton Holdings Bhd is pending at disposal. This is due to the unexpected hospitalization of the Proton Chairman in Chennai. It seems that the talks may not prosper as Hero group is not too willing to think about. This is the second such failure attempt by Hero group after is walk away from the talks with the German car maker Daimler, on financial constraints. Proton is too on the search for good business ally, as it faced a dissatisfying performance for the last two or three years.

The pressure for Proton comes from the Malaysian government to stabilize the country as a hub for manufacturing. Proton had since had talks with VW AG and GM and now in the Indian scene it looks upon M&M, International Cars, Argentium Motors. Proton had come forward with a proposal for a contract-based manufacturing in the Indian facilities to market thro a separate wing. Simultaneously, it explored the possibilities for sharing platform for technology. Proton tested its 1.3lit Saga and 1/6lit Persona on Delhi roads to be made at Argentum facilities.

But everything went in vain and the Malaysian-government’s own company has still a long way to go with product design and finishing. Proton is not responded well by its homeland as the company’s decision making strategy, which is slow, makes the fall. The company has its own manufacturing unit in Malaysia while the assembly units are in Indonesia and Iran. Proton’s well known products are Saga, Wira sedans and Satria (Proton compact) and Putra sporty coupe.

Bajaj Auto to roll out more bikes

The Pune-based Indian two wheeler king Bajaj is on top gear to deliver the largesse of its products. The company is gradually retaining its stability after the dismal shows in the last year. There will be entry into premium class bikes as the company is the second largest maker in India, after Hero Honda. Bajaj is now willing to pay more focus on the entry level which the company had kept in abeyance till Discover – 100cc- as the success rate of its Discover (selling 1 lakh units in just 50 days). Now, the company is seeking explorations for newer aspects similar to the strategy of Discover.

But the company wants to color its identity in the two wheeler market with premium products- 150cc and above- in which Bajaj’s Pulsar has a major chunk – 70%. That is, focus will be on bigger and sportier bikes at right time deliver, at an affordable aspect. Bajaj had the story about Pulsar with its launch of 150, 180,200, 220 series to please the customers. The current target is to sell one million Pulsar annually- in 150cc, 180cc and 220cc ranges.

This comes in the wake of its success in the mid market 125cc-135cc- two years ago inclduing by XCD125, Platina 125, Discover 135 and XCD 135. To meet the stiff competition from Yamaha, Suzuki and Hero Honda now Bajaj concentrates on premium bikes. Bajaj’s last year sale was a shortfall by 22.4%(1.4million units) despite the growth in the industry by 2.6% and Hero Honda mustering a growth of 12%(3.64 million units).

TVS Wego Driven

As Mr.Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of TVS Motors rightly acknowldged the teenagers especially girls who wants to graduate from scooty have to look for other brands. The product portfolio is not complete and it lacks a family scooter on the likes of Honda Activa or Suzuki Access. TVS wants to cater this segment with the launch of Wego. Can TVS grab a share in Honda’s strong belt? pass through the slideshow to know the answer

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Bajaj Pulsar 135cc Pictures

Ahead of Pulsar 135cc launch on December 09, pictures of pulsar started floating across. A Bajaj Pulsar fan club called bajajpulsar org has posted pictures of  the Bajaj pulsar 135cc. From the pictures, pulsar 135cc looks like a fusion of Bajaj XCD sprint (shown at 2008 auto expo) and pulsar 200cc. The styling of this bike is radical with trapezoidal headlamps. The rear muffler and rear number plate are also distinctly styled to resemble larger displacement sports bikes. However, the chain unit is closed one unlike we open chain arrangement in few Bajaj bikes. Pulsar 135cc is powered by 135cc DTS-Si engine which already powers XCD 135cc and develops 10bhp of max power at 7500 rpm. It pumps out 11.58Nm of peak torque at 5000rpm and the engine is mated with a four speed gearbox.  Similar to other Bajaj motorcycles, Pulsar 135cc comes packed with list of features. LED tail lamps, gas charged rear suspension, digital instrumentation, split seats, clip-on handlebar,alloy wheels, handlebar weights and spilit grab rail.

The specifications are purely speculative and taken from bajajpulsar.org.

Pictures of Bajaj Pulsar 135cc

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TVS launches Wego in India

You read it first at vicky.in

As you read it, TVS launches Wego Scooter in the Indian market today. Wego which comes with 110cc engine develops 8bhp f maximum power at 7500rpm and a maximum torque of 8 Nm at 5500 rpm. Wego use larger 90/90-12 tyres at both front and rear. The dimensions of the wego are -1834mm*640mm*1115mm. Wego weighs 105kg and comes with fuel tank capacity of 5litres. Telescopic suspension at the front and unit spring loaded suspension at the rear. Wego comes with class leading features – mobile charger,rear fuel filling and twelve inch alloy wheels, LED tail lamps,twin city lamps, underseat cell phone charger.

TVS Wego is priced at Rs. 42,500 (ex- showroom,Chennai).

Stay tuned for Vicky.in exclusive test drive on TVS Wego

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TVS launches its Clutchless bike – TVS Jive

You read it first at vicky.in

TVS Motors has today launched its much awaited clutchless bike Jive in the Indian market. Powered by an 110cc engine, Jive develops 8.4bhp of maximum power at 7500rpm and a maximum torque of 8.3Nm. Jive comes with T-Matic technology.  Jive comes with 4-speed transmission but features an handsfree gearshift. Jive comes with Tmatic technology (TVS term for automatic clutch). With a wheelbase of 1260mm, TVS Jive uses drum brake at the front and the rear.  Jive has fuel tank capacity of 15litres and 2 litre as reserve.  TVS Jive comes with gear Indicator and underseat space (bottle,umbrella and document).

TVS Jive is priced at Rs. 41, 000 (Exshowroom Chennai)

Stay tuned for Vicky.in exclusive test drive on TVS Jive

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Bajaj Auto is aiming to a razor edge with its Pulsar

The imminent success of Pulsar made Bajaj to increase its output to 90000 units a month from its Chakan plant. This will make the annual turnover to one million by the end of FY 2010-11. The bike is designed by Glynn Kerr Tokyo R&D, is a product owned by Bajaj and developed by its product engineering division. Till June 2009 the sale was 48000 units a month and is the leader of 150cc segment in India (sharing 43%).

The success story started from the launch and is still continuing, mainly for its unique youth features. The sale of Pulsar in FY 2008-09 was 28000
units a month (taking the annual toll to 336000) will be increased to 6 lakh units this year. The company has a special status for this Pulsar which has
yielded a pride of place for Bajaj – from 25000 units per month to 45000 units per month. The target for the next financial year will be 85000 units
a month taking the annual toll to one million.

The company MD is proud of this Pulsar that the bike is the culmination of the efforts exerted to meet the world class technology in the Indian
conditions. The bike boosts the reputation of the company’s portfolio to offer a range of products in a row. Bajaj was in the news with Pulsar 150
DTS-I and 180 DTS-I and the 220 edition in the talk, the fastest bike @ 144 km/hr.

Maruti Suzuki to issue Van to compensate Versa

India’s prestigious car maker Maruti Suzuki has designed Van to counter its aging model Versa (the production of which has since been dropped due to low sale volume). At the recently held Friendly Vehicle Conference the company’s Executive Officer revealed that the new van will replace Versa at least by the end of this fiscal. The report about its price is yet to be made public.

The company has set in one million vehicles by the end of this year by making use of all might in addition to models meeting the norms of Bharat
Stage IV. Maruti Suzuki is not full in terms of meeting the Bharat Stage IV norms for all cars but the stage has come to enter into that foray, said Mr. Rao. Further, there will be electric and hybrid cars in future plans along with cars of alternate fuels.

Toyota readies for engine and transmission plant in India

The Japanese auto king Toyota is filling its veins with the intensity to start engine and transmission plants in India. This is arrived at an idea to boost the production of cars in India itself rather than importing them. With its JV going along as Kirloskar is safe and comfortable, the new plant may be installed at Bangalore.

To ease the need for local production and transmission, Toyota has made this initiative, said its MD at Friendly Vehicles Conference. Toyota Kirloskar Motors JV has already invested Rs3200 crore for the new facility to have the capacity of 70000 units of small cars by 2011. If the demand increases in future, the capacity may be increased to 200000 units.