The 100 cc segment seems to be the main focus for bike companies who are vying with each other for the segment dominated by market leader Hero Honda. Five out of every 10 two-wheelers sold in India are 100cc bikes. India’s fastest growing two-wheeler company, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), and Bajaj Auto, are both going to make their presence felt in the segment this year, which has 50% share of the 74.37-lakh two wheeler market. H
MSI will launch 100cc bikes priced between Rs 40,000 and 45,000 later this year. HMSI president and CEO Shinji Aoyama said: “We are developing a new 100cc bike for India. It is the largest segment, and we want to tap this entry-level market with aggressive prices and innovative product. Our bike will be entirely different from the current breed of 100cc bikes.”The all new100cc segment is currently dominated by Honda’s joint-venture partner Hero Honda, with the Munjals as Indian partner. Half of Hero Honda’s 36 lakh annual sales come from the 100 cc segment. Mr. Aoyama said the company is working on products in a bid to reduce cannibalization with Hero Honda’ 100cc range. He added “We are not looking at high volumes, but want to satisfy customers looking for quality and products, and avoiding any direct ompetition with Hero Honda”. At about the same time Pune-based Bajaj Auto, which exited the 100 cc segment two years ago, is contemplating a re-entry into the segment to ramp up the declining sales. Bajaj had moved away from the 100cc segment and launched an all new 125 cc platform called DT-Si under the XCD brand to attract entry-level customers. The after sales dropped 23% to 12.86 lakh two-wheelers in the last fiscal. Bajaj plans to launch an ultra-low cost bike in the 100 cc range. It has already set up a production base in China, and is looking at importing bikes to India. The company has exported these Chinese made bikes to Nigeria and other African markets and will introduce this bike in India in next few months.
Source : http://news.infibeam.com/blog/news/2009/05/28/bike_majors_to_enhance_the_100cc_models_yet_again.html
MSI will launch 100cc bikes priced between Rs 40,000 and 45,000 later this year. HMSI president and CEO Shinji Aoyama said: “We are developing a new 100cc bike for India. It is the largest segment, and we want to tap this entry-level market with aggressive prices and innovative product. Our bike will be entirely different from the current breed of 100cc bikes.”The all new100cc segment is currently dominated by Honda’s joint-venture partner Hero Honda, with the Munjals as Indian partner. Half of Hero Honda’s 36 lakh annual sales come from the 100 cc segment. Mr. Aoyama said the company is working on products in a bid to reduce cannibalization with Hero Honda’ 100cc range. He added “We are not looking at high volumes, but want to satisfy customers looking for quality and products, and avoiding any direct ompetition with Hero Honda”. At about the same time Pune-based Bajaj Auto, which exited the 100 cc segment two years ago, is contemplating a re-entry into the segment to ramp up the declining sales. Bajaj had moved away from the 100cc segment and launched an all new 125 cc platform called DT-Si under the XCD brand to attract entry-level customers. The after sales dropped 23% to 12.86 lakh two-wheelers in the last fiscal. Bajaj plans to launch an ultra-low cost bike in the 100 cc range. It has already set up a production base in China, and is looking at importing bikes to India. The company has exported these Chinese made bikes to Nigeria and other African markets and will introduce this bike in India in next few months.Source : http://news.infibeam.com/blog/news/2009/05/28/bike_majors_to_enhance_the_100cc_models_yet_again.html
