TVS rocksssssss!!!
Could you believe, an auto manufacturer unveiling 7 products in a single ceremony. Most of us cannot! When TVS told (while announcing the first quarter results) that the true benefit of TVS R&D will kick in only in the coming months, not everyone take it serious. Now most of us have to feel sorry for that, over a night TVS has become aggresive, innovative whatever the words we find in the dictionary. The company which invests around Rs 30 crore a year in R&D has now begins to showcase its potential. TVS plans to invest three per cent of its turnover in coming years too.
TVS Motor Company on August 30th rolled out seven new vehicles at a function branded Dhoom 7, in its new Rs 125-crore three-wheeler plant in Hosur. TVS Motors unveiled seven new products in a single day – a first-of-its-kind in the industry. TVS new products includes a new 125cc bike Flame, a 110cc variant of StaR City, an electric variant of Scooty Teenz and a fuel injected Apache RTR 160. TVS also marked its foray into the three wheeler segment by unveiling three variants(petrol, CNG and LPG versions) of its new three-wheeler. With all these TVS disproved the dictum “Rome cannot be built in a day”. TVS has build it! here are those builds
TVS Apache RTR 160 FI:
The Apache RTR 160 has been upgraded with electronic fuel injection(EFI) and becomes Apache RTR 160 Fi. The EFI technology has enabled TVS to boost peak power of this bike. While pricing has not been announced, this variant is expected to be about Rs 5,000 more compared with the non-EFI model.
TVS 125cc Flame:
TVS 125cc Flame sports the india’s first three-valve CC VTi (controlled combustion variable timing intelligent) engine. The CCVTi engine not only reduces the carbon dioxide but also cuts down carbon monoxide production by 70 percent. TVS new engine has been developed in collaboration of AVL of Austria and TVS expects to manufacture about 35,000 units a year. I’m sure that the new 125cc bike Flame and the new Apache EFI 160 will be the technology showcases for TVS this year. The 125cc Flame will replace the 125cc victor. Bikes from victor family is almost over.
TVS 110cc Star city:
Because of the poor sales TVS has already stopped the prouduction of its 110cc victor earlier this year. Now TVS reenters the segment through the new 110cc star city. TVS star city is the best seller in its segment. Though the star city badge is used, the 110cc star city is a completely new bike.
TVS scooty Teenz Electric:
The Scooty Teenz electric vehicle has been built on the same platform as the earlier two-stroke version of the Teenz. Teenz Electric will sport imported electric motor and is expected to reach a top speed of 40 kph and would be capable of a maximum range of 50 km per charge. Teenz electric will come in three motor power variants.
Gasoline, LPG & CNG three wheelers:
Indian three-wheeler market is estimated at 5.4 lakh units a year, of which 3.6 lakh units come from the passenger segment. The three-wheelers that were rolled out today sport 200cc, two-stroke engines that comply with the emission and noise norms. Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradhesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi together constitute about 90 per cent of the overall market for passenger three-wheelers. TVS which hopes to manufacture about 1 lakh units is also working on a four-stroke engine platform which will be launched within the next one year.
In the three wheler industry the market leader was Bajaj Auto, accounting for a 57 per cent share. But during April-July this year, Piaggio cornered a 41 per cent share, against 42 per cent for Bajaj. Bajaj Auto’s products are priced in the range of Rs 56,000-75,000 (ex-factory). TVS is likely to price its three wheelers a bit lower. TVS aims to capture at least 30 per cent of the three-wheeler market in the next three years. The petrol version of the three-wheeler market is expected to grow at 7-8 per cent and the diesel version at 10-12 per cent.
Price and the Launch:
All the products – Apache RTR FI, 125cc CC VTi Flame, 110cc star city, scooty teenz electric and new threewheelers are expected to be launched in a phased manner between October and November 2007 and prices will be announced prior to the launch.
Not yet finished:
After the rollout ,TVS Chairman and Managing Director Venu Srinivasan told that ”six new platforms of two wheelers will be launched in a space of 15 months, besides a new scooter by early next financial year”. TVS plans to roll out the CNG version of its two-wheelers in january, besides launching hybrid vehicles(a hybrid scooty). CNG version will be limited to 100 and 125 cc motorcycles. TVS aims to export half a million two-wheelers from the current level of around 1,30,000 vehicles. This was apart from the production at its Indonesian plant, which went on stream recently. TVS also aims to invest an additional Rs 200 crore in the Indonesian plant over the next two years. In the three wheeler segment TVS will come out with a cargo version of the three-wheeler. The cargo version of the three-wheeler would be in the diesel category at a payload capacity of one-tonne. The vehicle is fitted with a higher capacity engine with the peak torque at lower rpm to take care of gradability without frequent gearshifts. TVS also aims to export the three-wheelers and is looking at an opportunity to assemble them its Indonesia plant in about a year\’s time.
Creator’s word:
on new launches..
“This is the first step to make the announcement of TVS as a young Indian multinational company. We have done significant amount of hard work in the last three years, and now 2007 will mark the emergence of new TVS,”
“Each new rollout signals avowed intent on the part of TVS to regain market share and momentum within the industry. The new offerings are targeted at different segments of the two- and three-wheeler customers with emphasis on superior technology, styling and engine capabilities,”
“Each new roll-out signals intent to regain market share and momentum within the industry,”
“The electric scooter would make a two-wheeler affordable to own and run for the school-girl or housewife even in small towns. It has the build quality and reliability that TVS is known for,”
on CNG two and three wheelers…
The auto industry has to make its best effort to make a green revolution by developing the technology of the future
“The CNG is just an alternate source of fuel for us. And it can be on any platform – maybe a motorcycle or a scooter. But it will be a motorcycle,”
“We have the technology for CNG-powered two- and three-wheelers. We will launch CNG-powered two-wheelers in January,”
“At present availability of CNG is restricted in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi. But with most of the country likely to be covered by CNG pipelines by 2009 it will be able to cater to 60 per cent of the Indian motorcycle market.”
“This vehicle has been designed, keeping in mind both the auto driver and passenger in mind. The LPG and CNG versions will save 30-50 per cent fuel, compared with the present petrol models in the market,”
“the three wheelers and the two wheelers would re-emphasise TVS war against global warming by reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiently, even while introducing new technologies and alternate fuels”
on sales prospect & investment..
“We are expecting flat growth during the festival period of October-December. We had strengthened our portfolio and entered the 125cc executive segment with Flame, that will being incremental sales and help us achieve positive sales in 2008,”
“We are targeting major metros such as Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad and the neighbouring markets of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Africa for exports. Despite a general slump in the automobile sector, three-wheelers have shown consistent growth. There is tremendous demand from smaller cities and towns and our product has been customised to meet the demand of small operators,”
We will invest Rs 50-60 crore every year to increase our capacities and launch new products.
Here’s the CNBC/ CNN-IBN Auto show video showing TVS Scooty Teenz Electric, TVS Flame 125cc and TVS Apache RTR 160 FI