Bajaj is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer


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Once known for its iconic scooter Chetak, Bajaj Auto has now transformed itself into a global motorcycle manufacturer. In the financial year 2011-12 the company sold over 3.8 million units of motorcycles worldwide which makes it world’s third largest motorcycle manufacturer. As far as motorcycles are concerned the company is only behind to global motorcycle leader Honda and India’s largest two wheeler company Hero Motocorp. If this isn’t enough, the company is also amongst the world’s most profitable automobile manufacturer.

Bajaj Auto is now world
 
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Re: BAJAJ AUTO is now world’s third largest motorcycle manufacturer

Honda activa and Bajaj Avenger

I own from Both the leaders.
Even i own 2005 avenger 180 (first batch), It's really heartening to see Bajaj transform itself as a global powerhouse.
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

yeah,
Bajaj has grow due to its hardworking R&D team and design team.

really proud to own two bikes from bajaj
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

yeah,
Bajaj has grow due to its hardworking R&D team and design team.

really proud to own two bikes from bajaj
Yes you are right Bajaj never relied on other's for technology, over a period of time they built a strong R&D base
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

Bajaj to import fewer vehicles to Sri Lanka due to import duty hike

Bajaj Auto Limited is one of the India’s largest exported of two- and three-wheelers has recently reported that it will export few vehicle this year to Sri Lanka due to the stat’s governments sharply increased import duties. Bajaj Auto will export around 60000 units to Sri Lanka this fiscal year to an annual sales to Sri Lanka are 264000 units. Bajaj exports 10,000 motorcycles and 12,000 three-wheelers to Sri Lanka every month. The country accounts for 17-18% of its total exports.

Bajaj’s Motorcycle prices were increased by 29% and 32% respectively due to Sri Lanka’s import duty hike and the company will face the head for the next two to three months until the buyers get used to the new price hike.

Bajaj Export accounts to 36% of its total production and more than 1.5-million two-wheelers and commercial vehicle which has been sold so far by the company. The Sri Lankan government has increased the import duties on cars from 120-291% to 200-350%, on three-wheelers from 51-61% to 100%, and on two-wheelers from 61% to 100%.

Source:
Bajaj reduces export to Sri Lanka this year
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

According to news reported by Business Standard, country’s second largest two wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto is planning to increase its production capacity by more than 25%. The company has currently installed capacity of 5 million units (4.5 million two wheelers and 0.5 million three wheelers) which is not sufficient for next financial year 2013-14. The company aims to increase its production capacity to 6.3 million units (5.7 million two wheelers and 0.6 million three wheelers) to cope up with the increasing demand of its motorcycles worldwide. The company has set target of selling 5 million units worldwide during the financial year 2012-13.

Rajiv Bajaj, MD Bajaj Auto ltd. said, “For the current year, we have the capacity to produce and sell five million units. Investments have already been made at our plants. We are looking at increasing productivity to manufacture 6.3 million which will come on-stream next year. Our goal is only one. We have to become a bigger, better and stronger motorcycle manufacturer on a global basis. Our every move is aimed at going up the value chain. We want to increase our global market share while maintaining good profitability.”

The capacity expansion will take place across the company’s three plants, Waluj, Chakan and Pantnagar. The company will utilize its additional capacity for new global markets and new variants of Discover and Pulsar. Last year the company exported 1.27 million units of motorcycle across the world which is more than 33% of its total motorcycle sales. The company aims to increase its export to 50% of its total production in the next few years. It is to be noted that the company’s export is increasing at 25-30% rate and it is adding new geography every year. Bajaj Auto has appointed new distributor in Mexico and it will start exporting to Argentina in the next six months.

Source:
Bajaj Auto to increase its production capacity to 6.3 million units
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

Found a nice article on how Bajaj is trying to grow southafrican matorcycle market,

The call on Alex FM radio is aimed at the residents in the overcrowded Johannesburg sprawl of shanties and houses: "Stop walking and start riding, it is time to get liberated!"
It's made by the representative of the main Indian motorcycle manufacturer which wants to flood South Africa's townships with cheap bikes, despite there being no local culture of two-wheelers which rule the road elsewhere in Africa.
"South Africa is a very particular market," said Karan Patni, southern Africa marketing manager for Bajaj which has opened four outlets around Johannesburg to target the untapped bike market.
"The black South Africans who live in townships, they don't have their own means of transport. They have to walk to a taxi rank, take a taxi and probably take another one. They spend a lot of money, and waste a lot of time."
Since the fall of apartheid in 1994, private car use has leaped in South Africa alongside a growing black middle class with more than 50,000 new and used cars sold in May alone this year.
But the overwhelming majority of locals are forced to use the privately run mini-bus industry which has a shocking record of deadly accidents and violence.
Only one in 10 of 40 million blacks own a car, with massive unemployment and poverty pushing even a 70,000 rand ($8,300, 6,600 euros) budget Chinese model out of the reach of most.
In contrast, a basic 150cc motorbike costs around 10,500 rand.
But South Africans so far have had little exposure to bikes or else snubbed the idea.
"All over Africa, motorbikes are a means of transport. They are selling like crazy," said Quinton Prinsloo, national sales manager at Southern African Motorcycles.
"But it is not working here. It is perceived as a toy, a luxury, it is not seen as a means of transport at the moment."
Most of the 350,000 motorcycles registered in South Africa are for weekend use and mostly ridden by whites.
"There are some black people who own motorcycles, for instance in Soweto, but not as a means of transport for commuting," said well-known South African crime writer and biking enthusiast Deon Meyer.
While he thinks the push by the Indian maker is a good idea, he also points out that owning a car is seen as prestigious.
"It has never been prestigious to own a motorcycle. You would be viewed as a poor, as a lesser person. In South Africa, if you own a car, you are somebody."
Transport specialist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Mathetha Mokonyama said Bajaj's success would depend on how they punt the bikes.
"You have to consider that bicycles, and motorbikes as well, are generally rejected -- people don't want to be seen as poor," he told AFP.
"It depends on how they market it and how they advertise it. If they sell mobility and freedom, it could work."
Hoping to swing a change, the company plans eight more outlets on top of the four opened in townships around Johannesburg, including a dealership in iconic Soweto.
"We are number one in Africa. Every year, we sell 400,000 motorbikes in Nigeria, 100,000 in Uganda, and 100,000 in Angola," said Patni.
"There is a huge potential for people who leave in the townships."
The company is pushing the pros of the bikes, that they are light on fuel, sold with a guarantee, and are a cheap and independent travel option with a one-way taxi route from Alexandra to downtown Johannesburg costing 11 rands.
It is even offering driving lessons.
But for now, the outlet in Alexandra has only sold two bikes in two months.
"It is a start, let's hope it picks up from here," said manager Abu Daya.
Auto companies hopes to grow S African motorbike market - The Economic Times
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

Bajaj Auto plans to hike prices over rupee depreciation.

The second largest two-wheeler maker in the country, Bajaj Auto has indicated that it may increase prices of its products due to the rising raw material costs due to the depreciating rupee. The reports quoted Bajaj Auto President, Motorcycle business, K Srinivas as saying "Definitely we are seeing a pressure on raw materials, because raw materials are usually corrected to the dollar rate. Some cost increases or price increases may be around the corner."

It was mentioned in the reports that the company had effected a price increase early this year, mentioning high input costs. Srinivas said the motorcycle industry is already highly "localised" and that any imports by companies are partly due to cost advantage. "The day cost advantage vanishes, we will stop importing such stuff."

According to Srinivas, last year, the industry grew by 12 per cent. Bajaj Auto reported 1.23 per cent increase in motorcycle sales in May at 3,21,922 units as against 3,17,989 units sold in the same period of last year. Exports grew by three per cent in May to 1,30,573 units compared to 1,26,818 units in the same month last year.
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

Found an nice Article on How Bajaj transformed itself:

By riding on the platform of power even as the rest of the industry was obsessing with fuel efficiency and price, Bajaj Auto changed the rules of the game with the brash, individualistic, testosterone-fuelled Pulsar.

Circa 2001: Bajaj Auto commissions a market research agency to survey how a newly-developed bike will be accepted in the market place. Amechanical engineer from the National Institute of Technology who joined Bajaj Auto in 1989 is one amongst the top team who meets the agency for feedback.

"The tank and exhaust are too big," droned the agency chief. "Reduce the size of the tank or else it will limit the relevance of the bike," he forewarned. The engineer patiently heard out the agency honcho. And ignored his advice.

"The very same tank and its character lines became the signature of Pulsar," he says more than a decade later - a period in which some 50 lakh Pulsars have been sold (till May 2012).

The engineer in question is Abraham Joseph, now Bajaj Auto's chief technology officer, who has gone on to develop a series of wildly successful Pulsars - ranging from 135 cc to 220 cc - along with other thriving models like the Discover range.

But Joseph's biggest break - and for that matter Bajaj Auto's - is the blockbuster of 2001 that has earned him the sobriquet, 'Father of the Pulsar.' With good reason.


The Pulsar not only transformed the way Indians commuted, but also changed the DNA of the country's second-largest two-wheeler maker that till then had successful but staid models like the M-80, the rear-engine three-wheeler and of course the scooter blockbuster, Chetak.

Other than transforming Bajaj Auto into a respected maker of bikes, the Pulsar did plenty more for the Pune-headquartered company.

For one, it provided the manufacturer a platform to make a much-needed shift from monotonous high-volume manufacturing - in 1997-98, Bajaj Auto produced a mind-boggling 1 million scooters - to innovation-led product development.

The mid-nineties also witnessed a dramatic shift in the preference of Indian consumers, from stolid scooters to bolder bikes.

By 1999, motorcycles had overtaken scooter sales for the first time in the country. Bajaj Auto was at crossroads - mobikes accounted for only a fraction of two-wheelers sold, and inflexible systems, manpower and mindsets all contributed to the company being relegated from top dog to the No 4 positon, behind Hero Honda, Yamaha and TVS Suzuki.

"Pulsar was not just a bike for Bajaj Auto," says VG Ramakrishnan, vice-president , automotive and transportation practice at Frost & Sullivan. "It was a do or die product. It was one single product that virtually saved the company." The company could just not get its earlier launches in the 100 cc and 110 cc right.


By 2001, by when the Pulsar was ready for launch - the 150 cc and 180 cc models hit the road in November - Hero Honda ruled the roost with 100 cc bikes. Almost the entire bike market was 100 cc, and we were fast losing ground to Hero Honda," says K Srinivas, president - motorcycle business, Bajaj Auto.

Pulsar not only transformed the way Indians commuted, but also changed the DNA of Bajaj Auto - The Economic Times
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

Betting big on its international business, Bajaj Auto Ltd is expecting exports to account for 50 per cent of its total sales in the next three years, as it plans to enter new markets in Latin America such as Argentina and Chile.

"In the last three years we have doubled our exports. The world is our market and we will continue to find new markets," Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) Senior Vice President (Business Development & Assurance) S Ravikumar said.

Elaborating on the company's export plans, he said: "In the next three years our aim is to have 50 per cent of our total sales to come from exports."

Ravikumar said 35 per cent of the company's motorcycle sales are from exports.

Asked about international market expansion plan, he said: "We are looking to expand presence in the Latin American market. Currently, work is in progress to enter the motorcycle segment in countries like Argentina and Chile."

As per the company's 2011-12 Annual Report, BAL's exports rose by 31 per cent over the previous year to 15.8 lakh units. In terms of revenue, it stood at Rs 6,604 crore, accounting for 35 per cent of the company's net sales.

The company exports to 35 countries with the African continent its largest market accounting for 41 per cent of the total overseas shipments. It is followed by Asia and West Asia at 40 per cent for both motorcycles and three-wheelers.

In the motorcycles segment, the company's Boxer models is the largest selling single brand in Africa. In the Philippines, Boxer BM-150 and Pulsar 135 are the best sellers.

In Latin America, where Bajaj Auto sells 20 per cent of its total motorcycle exports, Pulsar 135 ranks among the top selling motorcycle models, the company said.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the top markets for the company's three-wheelers.

Bajaj Auto expects 50 per cent of sales to come from exports in 3 years - The Economic Times
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

Bajaj Auto to enter ASEAN markets with Kawasaki tie-up

The second largest two-wheeler maker in the country Bajaj Auto has been clear about its growth path spurred by the strategic partnerships with several major bike makers in the international arena and now it has been reported in The Economic Times that building on its successful marketing tie-up with Kawasaki in the Philippines, Bajaj Auto plans to replicate the model in other ASEAN countries and Brazil. The boards of both companies approved this tie-up last week.

It was mentioned in the report that Bajaj and Kawasaki have garnered a 45 percent market share in the Philippines through this tie-up which began in 2004. According to the report, Bajaj will replicate the Philippines business model in Indonesia by mid 2013. In this model, Bajaj Auto develops and builds bikes in India and ships them to Kawasaki, who further fine-tunes them to suit local regulations. The bikes are then taken to the markets under the Kawasaki-Bajaj name.

The report also mentioned that at a broader level, this also results into better capacity utilisation for both companies. For Bajaj, it is utilisation of production capacity while for Kawasaki it is distribution capacity. Last year, Bajaj Auto exported 1.2 million motorcycles and has a capacity to produce four million annually. Export revenues contribute one-third of Bajaj Auto's total revenues, it was reported.

Bajaj Auto to enter ASEAN markets with Kawasaki tie-up | WheelsUnplugged
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

Bajaj - Kawasaki alliance was a successful one.

In India, when they introduced Bajaj-Kawasaki KB100 bikes, it was better than competition in built, features etc. They introduced tachometers for the first time in India in 2 wheelers.

However, general public was thinking about Hero Hoda only some and others were talking about Yamaha.

They have come a long away from that and Pulsar was a game changer for them.
 
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Re: Bajaj Auto is Now Globally 3rd Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer

2012 BAJAJ DISCOVER 125ST SPORTS COMMUTER MOTORCYCLE LAUNCHED IN NEPAL

Bajaj’s Nepal distributor, HH Bajaj, has launched a sporty commuter motorcycle for the Nepali two wheeler market, in the form of the 2012 Discover 125 ST. This motorcycle, which is the sportiest commuter offering from Bajaj in the 125cc segment, comes packed with power and sharp styling. The motorcycle is priced at an introductory price of 174,000 Nepali rupees, which converts to about INR 1.08 lakhs in India. The motorcycle will be built at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant, off Pune, and exported to Nepal as a completely built unit(CBU). Apart from the Discover, Bajaj sells a range of motorcycles in Nepal including the flagship 200 NS.

2012 Bajaj Discover 125ST Sports Commuter Motorcycle launched in Nepal | IndianCarsBikes.in
 
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Found a nice article on Bajaj thought of sharing it here

In a first, premium bikes from India


It took nearly 30 years for Bajaj Auto to move from the ubiquitous Chetak scooter to the flashy Pulsar. However, today the Pune-based company doesn’t take that long a period to bring out a new brand. The company will soon become the first Indian company to not just manufacture but also to design and develop high performance bikes.

Rajiv Bajaj-led Bajaj Auto, India's second biggest motorcycle producer, will soon start developing 400 cc super bikes for Austrian bike maker KTM.

Bajaj Auto, which holds 47 per cent equity in KTM, already manufactures Duke 125 cc and 200 cc models for KTM from the Chakan plant. Duke is sold in India as well as in Japan and Europe.

Over the next two-three years Bajaj Auto will carry out all projects of KTM having engine capacities up to 400cc from scratch to final product. These include designing, styling, engineering, testing of engines and vehicles, most of which were hitherto done outside India.

Speaking to Business Standard, Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto says: "We have plans to rapidly go up from the 125cc Duke not only in terms of engine capacity but also in terms of styling and designing. For the next couple of years, we have some very interesting designs on high-performance bikes lined up for introductions starting with early 2013.”

Last year, Bajaj Auto started shipping made-in-India products of KTM back to its home market, Austria. The 125cc KTM Duke has also been selling in Japan since early this year, beating Yamaha India that ships R15 bikes, which are made in India, back to Japan.

“Although there is no hard and fast rule, all the bikes (of KTM) which are planned for the next 2-3 years will be entirely developed at our R&D in Akurdi and they will be all be manufactured at our plant in Chakan. They will be sold in other parts of the world and India,” says Bajaj.

Over the next two years, four or five new products of KTM will hit the Indian and international markets. These bikes are sold through select Bajaj sales outlets in India and by KTM in export markets.

“There are various platforms and a twin cylinder platform under consideration. Essentially we have agreed that almost all KTM motorcycles up to 400cc will be designed and developed in India. That is why the 375cc (Pulsar) is also being done,” adds Bajaj.

The new generation Pulsar 200NS shares its engine, the platform and a host of components with the KTM Duke 200. Both are manufactured from the same facility in Pune. However, both are priced differently in the market with the Pulsar being cheaper.

As per the mutual agreement between Bajaj and KTM, the Indian company will restrict itself from entering the space above 400cc for the time being. However, Bajaj could revisit its strategies over time.
"We see ourselves in terms of relevance not to go too higher because then people won’t buy our products. So up to 400cc, we can build a market. As time passes, naturally we will have to recalibrate to the evolution of the market. KTM is already very strong in 990cc and above, which of course will be continued to be done out of Austria,” says Bajaj.

While the super bike segment of 990cc and above remains with KTM, Bajaj is eyeing the segment a shade below -- bikes with engines between 400cc and 990cc. Bringing those beasts to India may be one hell of a ride.

In a first, premium bikes from India
 

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