“Currently, we are making our Kristal only for exports, which we don't think is viable. So, we plan to exit the scooter business by the end of this financial year,” Rajeev Bajaj, the company’s managing director, was quoted as saying by local media reports.
According to the Indian media, Bajaj set its sights on retaking its position as the leading sales manufacturer in India. To this end Bajaj continues to expand its range of production motorcycles like the Pulsar and Discover lines, as well as entering a partnership with Kawasaki to sell the Ninja 250 in India.
The company recently introduced a new version of its premium Pulsar motorcycle range with a lower engine capacity, which is set to challenge Hero Honda and TVS Motor, its major competitors in the market.
The company already sells the Pulsar with engine capacities of 150cc, 180cc and 220cc. The new motorcycle, with a 135-cubic centimeter engine, will cost 51,000 rupees (about $1,000) at New Delhi dealerships. It will be manufactured at Bajaj Auto's Chakan plant which can make 35,000 units of the new motorcycle each month.
Bajaj Auto also has factories at Waluj in Maharashtra and Pantnagar in the northern state of Uttarakhand and also owns a considerable stake in KTM, continuing to increase its shares in the Austrian firm from the initial 15 percent bought in 2007.
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