Bajaj to ride on global roads

Bajaj auto plans to strength its presence in global markets along with Kawasaki and KTM brands. The company has already made its presence in Philippines by assembling its bikes in Kawasaki plant with the marketing looked after by the Kawasaki outlets. Bajaj would, thus save investment and at the same time can capitalize on the partners image. Presently Bajaj markets Kawasaki ranges of Ninja 250R in India, a CKD at Rs2,69,970  (ex-showroom New Delhi).

The current sale of this bike is 60 and the annual target is 1000 units. Bajaj has already invested for this production and the next move is to promote more probiking showrooms (from 24 to 30 in select 22 cities).  Another CKD bike KTM (1000cc) will soon be launched and there will be normal range bikes in 125-150cc sector. Bajaj is quite satisfied with its performance in the first quarter and hopes to improve in the next quarter. The boost came in the form of Discover 100cc -50000 units sold in August followed by 71000 units in September.

However, the net sale of Discover brand is 94000 units in September (Discover 100cc contributing the lion’s share). By taking an erroneous step of small bikes, the company diverted its fortunes but now the strategy is clear to rule the rooster. As for the small car project, the company is not in a position to reveal any information from the Renault to replace M&M. But the company is firm on making sedan and small car with Renault, and the project may get its due before 2011.

Maruti Alto Xcite Pictures

You see it fist at vicky.in

Maruti will launch an limited / special edition variant of its flagship product Alto. The limited edition alto xcite comes with loads of new features. Here is picture of the car.  To see new pictures of alto xcite limited edition and its features visit http://www.vicky.in/slideshow

Pictures of Maruti Xcite Limited Edition

maruti_alto_xcite

Bajaj Auto may set up assembly plant in Brazil

Bajaj Auto is aiming for an assembly plant in the free trade zone Manaus, Brazil. The project, slated for the FY11, is on the verge of locating the site and chalking out financial commitments. No details about the tie-up or all alone business are available. Bajaj is a well-known two wheeler company in India and has a largest assembly plant in Indonesia.

This follows the presence of its allies in Egypt, Nigeria, Iran and Colombia. In addition, there will be an expansion plan for its Aurangabad unit, which manufactures Kawasaki motorcycles and three-wheelers. The expansion will include commercial vehicles too. Everything depends on the demand, which shows the hike and other factors like the policies mooted by the governments in the centre and the state. By this September, the company has yielded a sales of 249,133 motor cycles which is an indication of 14.62% increase compared to last year’s 217,365 units. However, the net sales by the first six months of this fiscal were minus 3.37% (10, 82,368 units). Bajaj is doing overseas business in the countries like Latin America, Africa, the West Asia, South and South-East Asia, comprising one-third of the total production.

Harley-Davidson looks to open dealerships in more cities

The US bike maker Harley- Davidson has witnessed a good stint in India for its bikes and is getting ready to unroll more dealerships in the country. The deal will be purely on business sense in spite of certain reservations like Punjab, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. By 2010, the company would roll out more dealerships in any main locations to mean the business for both – the dealer and the company. without any specified number of dealers, the company is on the verge of promoting more dealerships to make its presence somehow.

By extending the last date for forwarding the dealership application to November 2, Harley-Davidson has organized a dealer meet in Delhi NCR segment on this date and in Mumbai during 19-20 October. The company had earlier announced its motive to launch at least 15 bikes in the country, all being the imported models in complete kit form.

Merc may lose top spot to BMW in India

The arch rivals in car industry Mercedes and BMW are in keen tussle to retain the top spot and in the given conditions, Mercedes may lose ending the battle. If it happens so, then it will be the first ever debacle for Mercedes in India. Last year Mercedes tasted a good time with selling of 537 more units(3445) than BMW(2908)but this year facing many hassles and hiccups, the company is facing a grave threat from BMW. More serious, Mercedes is in a position to face a fall in its own rate. BMW, for its part, had a good niche during the first 8 months in 2009, by selling 2305 units against BMW’s 1876units. Mercedes is left with technical flaws in the form of E-class variant (an outgoing model) and with just single variant in the new E-class petrol the company’s sales this year is in a cloud. However, the company is going ahead with its new version of E-class in 2010. The existing variant of E-class is a knocked down unit and is assembled in Pune and the assembled car accounts for 30% of the total sales of the company in India.

The last lot of the earlier model left out the unit as the new variant started the production a month ago. Mercedes will face further dip with the handicap of diesel variant and the simultaneous decrease in petrol variant. Moreover, the recent entrant, all new E-class is designed in the top-end segment with a 3.5 lit, V6 petrol engine @Rs46.97lakh. BMW has an alarming business, aiming to increase the sales to 3000 units to surpass its own sales, as is evident from the current growth of 13-15%. The 5series, 7series and SUV ranges from BMW show a high stint in sales with double digits. With this prospect, the company is intending to launch its Z4 convertible sedan @Rs50-60 lakhs.

Mercedes is shielding with its new E-class to vie against BMW next year. With barely three months left this year, the company senses that by having just 650 kits of E-class (old) for the bygone nine months and with just one diesel variant, it would be hardly possible to fetch as many number as targeted. The target is either reserved or carried over to 2010, which in the company’s version, would be a blockbuster year.

Red Zed Go – BMW to launch Z4

BMW’s latest venture will be launching the much-awaited Z4 (a convertible) luxury car on October 12. Thus, the company would make a penetrating presence in the luxurious car market in India. This comes in the series of M3 and M6 convertibles, and will be at the price range of Rs50-Rs60 lakhs. BMW is full of hope to sell a minimum of 30-40 units by the first year, which will carry 6-cylinder petrol, 258bhp, sDrive 30i. the sDrive is able to accelerate from 0-100km/hr in 5.8 sec at a top speed of 250km/hr.

BMW had a tough time rallying behind Dailmer Benz-owned Mercedes in the country before revitalizing to some extent. With the growth rate of 12.62% the company could sell 1313 units by the end of August. But Mercedes fetched the sale rate of 1128 units a decline of 19.02%. BMW sold 2908 units last year and the current year target is 3000 units.

Mercedes open to CNG E-Class imports

The Indian segment of Mercedes Benz has offered to deliver its CNG-E class variants sedan on demand. If the price is agreeable on the part of the buyers, then the company is all set to import by charging the 104 import duty. Thus the cost of the new variant will be double the existing E-class (petrol) variant (Rs45.89lakhs). The support for these variants are seen only in two cities Delhi and Mumbai. Further, the company is too willing to assemble this CNG version if sufficient demand is assured. The E-25 (a 25% mix of ethanol) is petrol variant in Merc models with the diesel is able to run on bio-diesel.

During the mileage trial of this CNG-E in India, Mercedes found to run @18km/kg. The bus business had a damaging effect due to the outbreak of swine flu, preventing the people preferring intercity luxury travel. So far Mercedes could secure the sale of 25 buses in India. In addition there is a new dealer in Jalandhar for Mercedes.