The economic slowdown and the spiking crude oil price has changed the mindset of Americans in a big away. Americans the world’s largest oil consumers and their love for SUV’s and Harley’s have always been a favourite subject for enviromentalist to criticize. However when the crude oild touched 4$ per gallon this summer, Americans felt the heat. Sales of Ford’s F150 and Toyota’s Tundra pick-up dwindled and i believe there wll not be question on Hummer. The shift is fast and even the mighty Toyota fails to cope up with the trend. Sales of prius and Mini jumped to many fold. But that alone may not be the solution. Finally American must follow the way of Indians and Chinese to survive in the toughest times. For short travel they have started looking for economical scooters.
The appeal for scooters is on the raise, where India’s second largest two wheeler maker wish to ride on. 131,000 new scooters were sold in the United States in 2007, nearly double the 70,000 sold in 2002 and triple the 42,000 new units sold in 2000. Meanwhile, U.S. sales of new scooter units were up 24 percent for the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same period a year ago. Bajaj once sold chetak in US exited from the country as Bajaj moved away from the scooter business to produce small engined motorcycles.Visit http://www.bajajusa.com/ to know more about chetak’s journey in US.
Bajaj is now looking to introduce the blade 125cc scooter in US. The blade 125cc unveiled at the January Delhi Auto expo is powered by a 4 valve, DTSI engine. The US variant of blade 125cc would feature Fuel Injection technology to return better fuel efficieny figure. Americans who have been riding Yamaha’s and Honda’ scooter might find the Bajaj’s blade an attractive option it will priced very competetively. The success or failure of Bajaj’s Blade will convey a lot. If it succeeds and global crude oil price continues to raise, Americans may have to ride splendours like their Indian counterparts to live.