fter inaugurating a company showroom in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of Delhi, recently, Bajaj Auto, India�s second biggest two-wheeler maker, announced that it would introduce four new vehicle models this year to boost sales by 10-12 per cent in India. The new models lined up for launch include an entry-level motorbike, Boxer-CT, and a yet- unnamed bike, codenamed K-60. The K-60 may be placed in the mid-market segment, that makes up about 55 per cent of motorbike sales in India. Bajaj executives present at the meet also promised a new automatic scooter, Wave, and a four-stroke Chetak scooter this year.

The company, whose two-wheeler sales climbed 2.96 per cent in 2003-2004 to 1.29 million, has been locked in a fierce battle with top-ranked Hero Honda Motors in the motorcycle market. But this year seems to have started on a bright note. Total two-wheeler sales of Bajaj Auto have grown by 19 per cent. Sales of Bajaj motorcycles for April 2004 stood at 90,532, up 27 per cent from the 71,074 units the company sold in April 2003. In the premium segment, the Pulsar twins (150 cc and 180 cc) recorded a growth of 49 per cent - selling 23,511 units, compared to 15,771 units in April 2003. ... more