Pune-based motorcycle manufacturer Bajaj Auto launched two new editions of their best-selling range of motorcycles ‘Pulsar’. Called the Pulsar Adventure Sports, the motorcycles have aggressive fairings and a larger windscreen to aid riders on long-distance cruising said Eric Vas, President, Motorcycle Business, Bajaj Auto. The new Pulsar AS will be launched with two engine size options, a 17PS AS150 which is priced at Rs79,000 and a 23.5PS AS200 priced at Rs91,500.
Commenting on the attractive pricing of the new products and whether they would cannabilise into sales of other Pulsar products, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, Rajiv Bajaj pointed out that the company sells 60,000 Pulsar’s every month with a 43 per cent marketshare in thet particular segment and believes that as the market grows there will be room for “finer and finer segmentation, and I would like to believe that all these products can co-exist”.
Vas also admitted that domestic sales had seen flat growth in the first few months of the year and hinted that rural sales growth will be adversely impacted by the unseasonal rains in northern and western India. “However, the wedding season that is beginning now will lead to improved sales although growth will be muted.”
“For five years in a row we have maintained a 20 per cent EBITDA margin and close to 20 per cent Operating margin. We have double the margins of Hero MotoCorp and three-four times the margins of TVS.”