Bajaj alleges TVS for smear campaign

According to a Bajaj Auto release, two people employed with TVS Motors outlets in central and eastern India have been caught red handed distributing leaflets allegedly containing misleading and wrong information on Bajaj products.

Bajaj Auto alleges that due to better product initiatives taken by it, the competition have been put under 'severe pressure', driving them to completely unethical and undesirable actions.

Bajaj Auto dealers nabbed Santosh Kumar Rath and Sunil Kumar Sahu distributing leaflets stating Bajaj Auto is "phasing out the Bajaj Platina 100cc motorcycles and that the ongoing discount on the bike is a part of stock clearance sale". Rath is an employee of Krishna TVS of Puri, Orissa, a Bajaj press statement said today.

Vimal Sumbly, national sales manager, Bajaj Auto, said: "The Platina has met with a tremendous response from consumers. We have no plan of discontinuing this hugely successful product. We are monitoring these types of unethical practices by competitors very closely. We see these activities as desperate measures by them to arrest the overwhelming success of our brands."

"We will not tolerate such unethical behavior on the part of the competition and we are planning to take police action at every location to bring this to a stop", he further added.

A TVS Motors spokesperson, said "TVS is unaware of any such action. The company will not indulge in any such activities and shall investigate the matter".

Bajaj also holds the 'competition' responsible for spreading incorrect news on the company's XCD125 motorcycle last week, that the bikes were being recalled for rectification.

An FIR has been filed against Krishna TVS by the Puri dealer of Bajaj Auto. Bajaj claims that it has received information that a similar vilification campaign is being carried out in Surat, Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Bajaj claims its recently launched product � XCD125 has sold 65,000 units in the first fifty days of its launch, making it the segment's top selling bike. In September the company sold 18,000+ units of the motorcycle.

Following the positive response, the company plans to hike monthly production to 75,000 units in November � two months ahead of schedule.

Amit Nandi, general manager (marketing), Bajaj Auto, said: "Fifty per cent of XCD 125 volumes are coming from competition, a majority of them being 100cc users. XCD 125 is a compelling package that 100cc customers are finding very difficult to resist."


Source:- Business-standard

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TVS takes lead in DTS-i patent war

TVS motor has filed a defamation suit against Bajaj Auto in Bombay High Court and another suit in Madras High Court under the patent law. With this, TVS has taken the lead to begin the legal war with its rival, Bajaj Auto.

Earlier this week, TVS filed a Rs 250-crore defamation suit in Bombay High Court against Bajaj Auto’s allegation of infringement (by TVS) of intellectual property rights on technology that is used in most Bajaj bikes. TVS has also filed another suit under the Indian Patents Act in Madras High Court to counter Bajaj’s claims on patent violation or infringement by TVS.

Soon after TVS unveiled a range of new products on August 30, 2007, Bajaj had alleged that TVS had used its digital twin spark ignition technology ( DTS-i) in the latest models, including the 125-cc bike, Flame, that was showcased by TVS on the occasion.

In turn, TVS declared if the “malicious and reckless charge” was not withdrawn by Bajaj, it would file a libel suit for Rs 250 crore. TVS also said it would ensure, by appropriate legal means, that Bajaj did not interfere with its use of its in-house VTi technology, on the basis of which TVS has already announced new launches commencing November.

Now that TVS is preparing for the launches in November and December, it has filed the Rs 250-crore defamation suit in Bombay High Court. When contacted by ET, a senior TVS Motor official confirmed filing of the suit.

“As of now, we do not know what will be the reaction from Bajaj and also when they will react,” the official added. TVS has also filed another suit in Madras High Court to counter its rival’s charge that TVS had copied its patented digital twin spark ignition technology in the 125-cc TVS flame slated to be launched in December. TVS’s contention is that it is a “groundless threat”.

TVS’s stated stand on the technology issue is that “the patent rights claimed by Bajaj Auto for its Internal Combustion Engine is not for ‘twin spark plugs’ per se. It is for the use of twin spark plugs in two valve engine.” On the other hand, TVS technology is a combination of its in-house developed innovative technology VTi and use of AVL’s patented 3 valves technology in engine.

In line with its stand, TVS Motor in August this year, moved an application before the Intellectual property Appellate board, Chennai, to revoke the patent granted to Bajaj Auto on the ground that patent claimed by Bajaj is a known prior art.

Sources in Bajaj Auto said the company has not yet received any paper or communication from the court. The company would study the papers and take necessary action to defend itself before the court of law.


Source:- Economictimes.indiatimes



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Yamaha Motor plans to launch scooters

Yamaha Motor India (YMI), a fully-owned subsidiary of the $12-billion Japanese auto major Yamaha Motor Company, plans to foray into the fast growing automatic scooter segment.

Yamaha, which has several scooter models, ranging from 110 cc to 400 cc, is evaluating the right segment to foray into the Indian market. YMI managing director and CEO Tomotaka Ishikawa told ET, “We will enter the scooter market but are yet to finalise the segment and the products. Once we introduce our new range of bikes in early 2008, we will concentrate on the right kind of scooter for the Indian market. We plan to hit the premium segment first and target customers who prefer to go for style and power rather than use scooters for their commuting needs.”

The company is likely to introduce its automatic range of scooters with dual disc brakes and twin-shock chassis with high-powered liquid cooled engines in the premium segment. It may also hit the entry-level segment with its fuel-injected 125 cc four-stroke engine and compact-sized urban scooters. YMI has already commissioned a market survey to determine different volume generating scooter segments in India.

“We will have India-specific products, though our high-powered range in Europe and sub-150 cc Asian models could also be considered. We will bring new and better features in our scooters with comfortable suspension which will meet high safety standards,” Mr Ishikawa said.

Yamaha Majesty 400 Motoscooter

As part of its Rs 1,000-crore restructuring plan, YMI will increase its portfolio from the current three bikes it sells in the domestic market. While its high powered 150 cc to 250 cc scooters will hit the urban markets, the 100 cc to 125 cc scooters will target smaller cities and towns.

With a slew of launches in different segments, Yamaha is aiming to dent the scooter market which has remained positive despite the slump in two wheeler sales. While motorcycle sales, which forms 85% of the market, has fallen by 15%, scooters sales grew by 20% to 5.30 lakh units in the first half of this fiscal.

YMI will compete with Japanese arch-rival Honda Motorcycle & Scooter, which commands a 50% marketshare while TVS Motors and Hero Honda also sell a significant number. Recently Suzuki Motorcycles India and Kinetic Motor Company have also joined the fray by launching new scooters in the 125 cc segment while the Ludhania-based Hero Cycles has also introduced a wide range of electric scooters in technical collaboration of Ultra Motors of UK.


Source:- Economictimes.indiatimes


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Yamaha to invest Rs.250cr

Japanese bike makers make new plans for India

Yamaha to bring R1 and MT01 in India

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Yamaha to invest Rs 250 cr

Yamaha is investing Rs 250 crore to set up a new subsidiary in India. Yamaha plans to not only use this subsidiary to import its high-end super bikes and speciality vehicles like snow mobiles, golf carts and all terrain vehicles into India, it also plans to forge local partnerships through the new entity. Yamaha has indicated it will pump in Rs 500 crore in the new subsidiary in two years.

In its application to the government, Yamaha has indicated that it is “currently in the process of identifying a partner for the proposed subsidiary company”.

The partner, it said, “may be an Indian or foreign entity and may subscribe up to 30% of the equity share capital” of the new subsidiary. The details of the new partnership will be submitted once the partner is “identified and finalised” said the application. Yamaha was, at one point, seriously talking to Bajaj Auto for a possible alliance in the motorcycle segment. However, industry sources say, those discussions are currently on the back burner.

According to the proposal, the new subsidiary will make, market and export two-wheelers and parts, import two-wheelers and parts not made in India and import other products from its global portfolio like all terrain vehicles, outboard motors, snow mobiles, generators, multi-purpose vehicles, water pumps, electric hybrid bicycles, racing and golf carts.

Yamaha has already announced it will launch two super bikes from its global stable in India in fully-imported form. These are the R1 and MT01. So far, Yamaha has invested just short of Rs 1,700 crore in India. Two years ago, the company bifurcated its operations into two subsidiaries - Yamaha Motor India for manufacturing and Yamaha Motor India Sales for marketing.

Source:- Economictimes.indiatimes


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Hero Honda got HUNKED

The new Hero Honda Hunk 150

So guys. Here is the much hyped Hero Honda Hunk. All were expecting a 160 or 180cc Bike and Hero honda has presented a repackaged CBZ Xtreme.

new Hero Honda Junk..oops!.. HUNK - Looks a lot inspired from TVS Apache RTR and Flame. Hmm, looks like someone is watching TVS closely.

This bike really reminds me of TVS Flame

Hunk uses same chassis of CBZ Xtreme but adds in some more muscle and gets rid of that ugly CBZ xtreme bikini fairing. The company has launched two variants of the Hunk , kick-start and self-start. While kick-star would be available at Rs 55,000, the self-start model which is priced at Rs 57,000.


Dont look at the spec sheet because specs are same as CBZ Xtreme. It still uses the same 150cc engine and churns out 14.2Bhp.

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While unrelenting high interest rates have stolen the growth of bike sales, it is the rural market that has borne the brunt so far while the sales in urban areas have continue to grow. In the first half of the current fiscal, sales in the entry-level 100cc segment, which is largely driven by rural demand, have come down by 21% cent compared to last year while the urban driven executive segment has still managed to grow by 11% . Sales in the overall motorcycle segment is down by 15.2 % in the same period.

On the contrary, for the full fiscal year 2006-07, the entry-level 100 cc segment had grown by 7.66% while the executive segment with bikes of 125cc and above had grown by 38.36% . While interest rates have eaten into the growth of the executive segment as well, it is the entry level which is in total disarray.

“The major issue arising out of high interest rates is credit availability. Banks are now less savvy about taking risks and more cautious with first-time buyers. This has created a problem in rural markets,” said Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) director general Dilip Chenoy. “A number of banks have actually stopped disbursing loans in states like UP and Bihar and that has impacted sales.”

The demand in urban areas has also seen scooterette sales go up substantially. As opposed to fiscal 2006-07, when the segment grew by only 3.48 per cent, this year sales have grown by 20.13 per cent. “While motorcycles will continue to rule, it is largely dependent on demand in rural markets while ungeared scooters are a primarily urban product. As we have seen in the last six months, despite high interest rates scooters are the only other segment to grow in double digits,” said Kinetic Motor MD Sulajja Firodia Motwani.

Despite the festive season hype, industry does not expect demand in rural markets to pick up in the times to come. “We have seen wide-scale postponement of purchases in rural areas and for the next six months, we expect things to remain the same. Consumers are upgrading from 100 to 125cc but the rural market is still predominantly 100cc,” said Bajaj Auto (BAL) two-wheeler division CEO S Sridhar. “This festive season will not be as good as last year’s. High interest rates is an issue in urban areas as well but in rural areas it is a bigger concern, as availability of finance itself is an issue there.”

Split Cycle

•Motorcycle sales dips to 2.72mn in April-Sept 2007 against 3.21 mn last year.

•Entry level segment down by 21.72%. Hero Honda sales skid by 4.3 per cent, Bajaj & TVS see 43% and 44% decline

•Executive segment (125cc & above) grows 11% from 0.62 mn to 0.69 mn

•Scooter segment posts

comeback, grows by 20.13% from 0.44 mn to 0.53 mn

•Rural markets to stay sluggish, pull bike sales down for rest of fiscal


Source:- Indianexpress

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Super Pulsar 150 SP

SuperPulsar

Dont get shocked. what u see in these pics is a Pulsar with The engine from Honda NSR 150 SP, liquid cooled two-stroke, six speed and produces 39.5 bhp.

This bike is made by A bike enthusiast 'Rajkumar'. Hats-off to him for making such a awesome bike. It has great Power right from the word go and pulls strongly right through the rev range with no lag when you shift a gear. Will easily leave a RD 350 HT behind.

This is the donor bike - Honda NSR 150 SP

Enjoy more pics:-



Pictures courtesy Xbhp.com - Bhp more is never enough

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How Hero Honda made TVS, Bajaj make up

A Picture is worth a thousand words, thus goes the saying. Hero Honda chairman Brijmohan Lall Munjal’s photo-op at the SIAM meet mid-September was one such instance which had sparked off speculation that he had managed to bring rivals Venu Srinivasan and Rajiv Bajaj at the height of the TVS-Bajaj face-off last month to the negotiating table. Mr Lall has now admitted that he was instrumental in brokering peace between Mr Srinivasan and Mr Bajaj.

“There was no plan to bring the two together," Mr Lall said, on the sidelines of a conference to announce Hero Honda's 20 millionth bike. "Of course, I would love to have the two to get together. I feel we are only three or four big players in the motorcycle market in India, and it does not make sense for us to fight."

The two warring CEOs, he said, are like his “own children”, so when he indicated his desire for a photo-op, they agreed. "Both Venu and Rajiv are younger than me," he said. "They are like my children. So, they respected my wish. There was no plan as such. I just mentioned to them, 'Let's all sit together'."

Mr Lall’s son Pawan Kant Munjal, MD, Hero Honda, added that it was a-spur-of-the-moment act on the part of his father. "As a father figure, he wanted the two of them to get together. He wanted to egg them on to sort out things between them. That's what he did."

Source:- Economictimes.indiatimes

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Hero Honda ready for festive season

ero Honda Motor Company, the country�s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, said it expected sales to revive in the festival season.

The two-wheeler industry had been hit the most with growth in sales falling in almost double-digit in the last few months on account of high interest rates.

Last month, Hero Honda posted a 4.98 per cent growth in its sales as against its rivals, Bajaj and TVS saw a 32.10 per cent and 56 per cent decline in sales respectively.

The company said that as some banks had announced rate cuts ahead of the festive season, it was setting the tone for good times ahead.

�We are looking at the festive season and expect preponement of purchases. However, there are macro-economic conditions which have led to the decline of the industry,� said Anil Dua, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Hero Honda Motor, at a press interaction on the company reaching its 2-crore mark of production on Friday.

Source:- Sify

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BAJAJ vs TVS : Fight for DTS-i goes on

The Bajaj DTS-i engine is at the heart of the patent dispute that�s broken out between two of the top two-wheeler makers.

Now after a lot of fireworks, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors are trying to douse the fire and S Gurumurthy of Swadeshi Jagran Manch will play peacemaker between the two desi rivals.

S Gurumurthy is heading off to Pune on October 16 to kick off the arbitration process. Gurumurthy will meet the top brass of Bajaj Auto including Chairman Rahul Bajaj and Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj, which will be followed up with meetings with TVS Chief Venu Srinivasan to sort out differences between the two sides and submit his award to ensure that the patent dispute does not break out into a patent war.

Sources say that the arbitrator's role will essentially be to contain the differences between the two wheeler makers rather than go into the commercial aspects of the patent dispute.

With TVS' new bike Flame to hit the streets next month, both Bajaj and TVS just want to make sure that they don�t get into a court battle during the peak festive season.

Last month Bajaj Auto charged TVS Motors of using its patented digital twin spark technology, to which TVS threatened to file suit against Bajaj Auto for damages worth Rs 250 crore.

Bajaj and TVS may be on a reconciliatory mode but many feel that the patent war proves that the domestic two-wheeler is coming of age.

Gurumurthy has played the role of a peacemaker in many high profile corporate tussles including the Bajaj family dispute. Both Bajaj Auto and TVS are hoping that his involvement will make sure that the patent dispute does not blow out of proportion.

Source:- Ndtvprofit

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John McGuinness Honda CBR Fireblade Limited edition

Ten John McGuinness CBR 1000RR TT replicas are set to be up for sale from Fowlers Honda in Bristol to celebrate McGuinesses record-breaking win at the TT this year.

The motorcycle will come with the HM Plant replica paint scheme, a black screen, headlight covers ,a rear seat cowl and Akropovic titanium silencer and Gilles titanium chain adjuster and paddock stand mounts.

This CBR limited edition looks gorgeous

Each motorcycle will be delivered with a signed certificate of authentisity from John Mc Guinness and a Centenary TT commemorative annual also signed by him.

This limited run of motorcycles will only be available through Fowlers Honda for £9,999 (Rs 8.1L).

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Japanese bike makers make new plans for India

To break into the league of the Hero Hondas and the Bajajs in the country, traditional Japanese rivals Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha have decided to adopt a common strategy of building new platforms for the Indian market.

The plan comes at a time when the combined market share of Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors fell to 83 per cent in the two-wheeler market in the April-August period this year against 86 per cent in the same period last year.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMI) and Yamaha Motor India (YMI) are building motorcycles and scooters to suit the Indian market. The models will be manufactured at the company?s research and development centres in Japan and will use new platforms.

?We are focussing on the Indian consumers? demands for two-wheelers, their preferences and choices. Based on this, we will offer products that suit all these needs,? said Sanjay Tripathi, chief general manager, YMI.

Yamaha may introduce consumer-centric mass commuter products before 2008-end. This will be kickstarted by the launch of the premium superbikes, YZF R1 and MT01, in November this year. ?Our launch of superbikes will give the consumers a fair idea of what Yamaha has in store for India,? added Tripathi.

Suzuki Motorcycle India, which is planning to have a market share of 4 per cent by March 2010, is developing motorcycles and scooters for India at its mother plant in Japan.

?Our models will be completely based on market feedback, tastes and preferences, dislikes and affordability. This will entail cost for developing completely new models, which are not available anywhere else,? said, Satya Sheel, managing director, Suzuki Motorcycle India.

The recent launch of a scooter, Access, was the first example of the initiative. The company aims to have seven products in its portfolio by March 2010 with an intermittent product launch every 6-8 months.

Sheel said the cost of developing a new model, especially a motorcycle, could be in excess of Rs 200 crore.

HMSI will also expand its product offering size to eight models by 2010. It will develop models after carrying out market research studies in India. Honda will showcase a new scooter, a notch above Activa, at the AutoExpo next year, to be launched in India later. This model, using a completely new platform, was developed to suit the Indian market.

The company will launch a 100cc bike in 2009, preceded by a scooter and a premium bike in excess of 150cc next year. The company wants to fully utilise the installed capacity of 1.2 million units by 2010 compared with 9 lakh units currently.

Suzuki?s plans for the local market, however, will not be restricted only to the Indian shores. The company aims to make India a local hub for exports of Indian models to markets in South America and Africa. ?The focus of these companies will indeed be on India as its market for two-wheelers is expected to double in size by 2015 to 15 million units. Investments in making new models will not be problem for these giants?, said an analyst.

Source:- Business-standard

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