Bajaj Auto has confirmed its plans to launch two Pulsars this year, one will be the KTM Duke 390 based Pulsar 375, while the other will be a sub 200cc Pulsar. Details about the sub 200cc Pulsar remain sketchy but Bajaj Auto could launch an all new Pulsar 150 or Pulsar 180 to tap into higher volumes in the mass market segment. Just recently Honda announced the CB Trigger, while Yamaha has been continuously giving its 150cc bikes new colours. Thus Bajaj Auto could launch a vastly improved Pulsar to fend off competition.
The Pulsar 150 is a very important bike for Bajaj, as it accounts for a majority of Pulsar sales. This version of the Pulsar hasn’t been updated since a long time now. Considering the Discover 125 ST has been given a monoshock and a 4-valve engine, we expect the company to update the lower capacity Pulsars in a similar fashion. This will make the Pulsar stand apart from the competition on specs alone, a move which Bajaj Auto usually does with most of its motorcycles, offering features which are not offered by rival companies.
Rajiv Bajaj feels the TVS-BMW alliance won’t find it easy to compete against the Bajaj-KTM alliance. He states that a new entract won’t be able to make a tough impact immediately. Mr. Bajaj cites Honda and Toyota as an example, saying the Brio and Etios haven’t been able to challenge Maruti Suzuki in the small car segment. Bajaj Auto will continue to focus on the Discover brand, which has become the company’s volume churner. The Pulsar 375 will be launched by the end of this year and is expected to be a full-faired motorcycle (our rendering below).
Source – MoneyControl