Bajaj Auto Clarifies On Automatic Scooter Plans

Updated: Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 12:36 [IST]

There was a huge buzz in the past couple of weeks about Bajaj Auto planning to launch a new automatic scooter in India in the coming months. The reports of this new Bajaj scooter was triggered by a Bajaj website showcasing a new look Kristal. The Bajaj Kristal was the last automatic scooter launched by the two wheeler firm.

Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj has denied these reports and has stated that Bajaj had no plans to enter the automatic scooter segment in India. Mr Bajaj had previously also stated that the Bajaj Auto would focus only on motorcycles.

Baja Auto is looking at a dominant position in the motorcycle segment and will not try to shift its focus until it achieves its goals. This clearly means Bajaj will consider automatic scooters only after it overtakes market leader Hero MotoCorp in India. Bajaj Auto has not completely ruled out the possibility of building the scooter segment but wants to concentrate on becoming a specialist in motorcycles, at least for now.

Bajaj Auto is also looking to becoming a niche player in the motorcycle segment in India. It will begin this process by launching the Pulsar 375. The Pulsar 375 will be Bajaj's new flagship motorcycle after Pulsar 200NS. The new Pulsar 375 is expected to be loaded with features along with a mouth watering price tag of under INR 2 lakhs.

Some will find Bajaj Auto's decision not to enter the Indian automatic scooter segment as surprising considering the company's ambition to overtake Hero. Hero has achieved its sales volumes not only through its budget motorcycles but also through scooters such as the Maestro and Pleasure.

If Bajaj Auto truly has no plans to enter the automatic scooter segment, we are left wondering why it had to take the trouble of building an exclusive website for a new scooter named as the Kristal DTS-i. Here are images of the Bajaj Kristal DTS-i if you have missed our previous post on Bajaj's new scooter.

No Automatic Scooters From Bajaj

Bajaj Auto hinted at entering the automatic scooter segment by launching a website for the Kristal DTS-i automatic scooter. Flip through the slides to view images of what could have been a new Bajaj scooter.