Bajaj's total two-wheeler sales during May this year stood at 165,697 units, as against 180,935 units during May last year. The company's total sales (including three-wheelers) stood at 185,341 units during May 2009, as compared to 201,511 units during May last year. Exports went down from 60,215 units in May 2008 to 58,682 units during May this year.

Bajaj, which has already launched upgraded versions of its Pulsar 150 and 180 models, is expected to also launch a revamped version of the Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi later this month. However, there is no word on the launch of the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, which was earlier supposed to be launched during May 2009.

[Via: indiaautomotive]

At 375,439 units, Bajaj's sales sales were down 22% during Q4 FY 2008-09, as compared to 482,912 units sold in the corresponding period last year. Consolidated total income during the quarter was down 8.61%, at Rs 1,883.27 crore, as compared to Rs 2,060.61 crore in Q4 FY 2007-08.

Bajaj Auto sold a total of 1.91 million two-wheelers during FY 2008-09, as compared to 2.1 million units during the year-ago period, a decline of around 11%. However, Bajaj is working on various things to remedy the situation. The company is working on a brand-new scooter with which it expects to be able to take on the Honda Activa, which is the biggest bestseller in its segment.

Bajaj is also pushing ahead with its made-in-China budget bikes for some of its exports markets. For India, the Pune-based company is all set to launch a new range of bikes, developed in collaboration with KTM, by early 2010.

[Via: indiaautomotive]

"If you see figures of the total year the distance is very large. But, it was only in a couple of months where the distance went down. If you see the whole year, we were far ahead of TVS and we expect to be far ahead this year also," Bajaj Auto Vice Chairman, Madhur Bajaj said. "This year we expect the position to become better. We are coming out with 7-8 new models or upgrades and expect to generate a lot of interest through these," Mr Bajaj added.

Recent data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), suggested that while TVS and Bajaj reported a fall in sales in 2008-2009, the fall was steeper in Bajaj's case, where sales dropped by nearly a quarter, as opposed to TVS, which lost sales by more than a percent. This contrast made TVS inch closer to Bajaj.

[Via: Motorbeam]

Honda Eterno was a fully packaged geared scooter with all good features from a motorcycle and scooter. HMSI is offering this as an alternative to Bajaj Chetak and LML Vespa NV.The reasons may be many from boring looks,heavy and bad handling etc.Interestingly this is not the situation only for Honda Eterno. Story is same with all other geared scooters,whether it is Bajaj Chetak or LML Vespa.

But there is good side, if HMSI is actually planning to discontinue Honda Eterno you can expect much more great products in coming years.That will be good plan ,hope you will also agree.Because HMSI can completely focus on their new product line ups including new Activa and sports bikes currently in pipe line.

[Via: wheelosphere]

Romagnoli also suggests a drastic reduction in the rev limit for MotoGP engines, which would enhance their longevity. This, according to him, would be crucial in bringing down costs because the engine is the most expensive part of a MotoGP bike in terms of the cost of components as well as research and development costs.

Reducing the rev limit to 16,000rpm would, according to Romagnoli, allow manufacturers to use the same engine in two or perhaps even three races. It would also allow a reduction in manufacturing costs since it would be possible to make these engines with relatively less expensive materials.

The Fiat Yamaha managers recommend the usage of just one ECU per bike and a drastic reduction in the usage of complex, expensive sensors such as inertial platforms and GPS. They recommend going back to simpler, less expensive electronics - the kind that were being used five years ago.

And finally, they suggest that steel (rather than carbon) brakes be used on MotoGP bikes, which would help cut costs further. 'I don't think these changes would make the championship any less spectacular. As a matter of fact, it could lead to even have more surprises,' says Romagnoli.

[Via: indiaautomotive]

Three-wheeler sales during the month stood at 21,985 units against 24,601 units in the year-ago month, the company said in a statement. Exports during the month, however, grew by 24% at 54,027 units against 43,533 units. The company said that it is targeting to sell around 20,000 units of its latest model XCD 135 DTS-Si, in the next month.

Hero Honda has reported a 10.2% decline in sales for December 2008, at 215,931 units, against 240,532 units sold in December 2007. However, the company posted a 9% growth in sales for calendar year 2008, selling 3.6 million units during the year, compared to 3.3 million units sold in 2007.

[Via: indiaautomotive]

For the April-December 2008 period, BAL's total motorcycle sales were down 8% at 1,534,149 units, against 1,660,182 units in the corresponding period in 2007. Bajaj intends to deal with the slowdown in demand by launching a range of new bikes and new variants of existing bikes.

The aim, for BAL, is to launch one new two-wheeler every month, for the next six months. While bike sales have gone down, BAL's three-wheeler sales actually went up by 3%, with the company selling 22,948 units in December 2008, compared to 22,221 units in December 2007.

According to H S Goindi, Senior Vice-President of Sales, TVS Motors, "The overall range of price cuts varies between 700-2,000 rupees for all scooters and motorbikes. We have passed on the benefits (of the excise duty cut) to the customers." The prices are effective from Wednesday and are applicable across India.

[Via: cartradeindia]

The company's three-wheeler sales fared better, at 27,326 units, against 24,197 units in November last year - an increase of 13%. Bajaj's exports during November 2008 also went up by 46%, at 67,397 units, against 46,295 units during Nov last year. Bajaj Auto is also looking at launching up to six new bikes/variants over the next few months, in order to revive consumer interest and boost sales.

[Via: indiaautomotive]