The Hindu Business Line : Bajaj Auto to put out five new two-wheelers this year

BAJAJ Auto, the country's second largest two-wheeler manufacturer, is planning to launch at least three new bikes and two new ungeared scooters this year, including the Pulsar DTS-Fi, which would be the country's first bike to feature electronic fuel injection.

With the launch of these new two-wheelers, Bajaj is targeting sales of over 2.2 million two-wheelers this year compared to last year's 1.7 million units. The other new products that Bajaj is expected to launch later this year include the Sonic DTS-i, which is slotted in the 125cc plus bike category, the scooterette Kristal DTS-i and the Blade DTS-i, a full-sized ungeared scooter.

Of all these new products that are being showcased at the Auto Expo, the most significant is the Pulsar DTS-Fi, the bike with electronic fuel injection. Fuel injection (EFI) by itself is a technology that few companies have mastered around the world for two-wheeler applications. At present, EFI is only available in four wheelers in the country.

Globally too, EFI is available only in passenger cars and a few high performance super sports bikes. Fuel injection is difficult to adapt for existing bikes and though it offers considerable benefits in terms of enhanced performance and fuel-efficiency over carburetted engines, it is also an expensive technology.

Bajaj claims to adapted EFI for the Pulsar after considerable changes to the engine and instead of the earlier naturally aspirated, air-cooled engine, this one will need liquid (oil) cooling. The Pune-based company has also said that it has been successful in integrating EFI to its own digital twin spark (DTS-i) technology. The new engine has been developed in-house by Bajaj's R&D department and includes features such as a projector headlamp, front and rear disc brakes, LED tail lamp, digital instrumentation for the speedometer and fuel gauge and an elliptical section swing arm.

Mr Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, also said that with the increase in the number of higher priced bikes, which bring in higher margins for the company, Bajaj would post a 50 per cent jump in profits for this year, even as revenue growth would be about 30 per cent. He added that the company's export growth and motorcycle volumes would also witness a similar 30 per cent rise.

The company is already exporting to various countries, including Columbia, where it sells about 700 to 800 bikes a month, he said. Mr Bajaj also mentioned that a team from Kawasaki is coming to meet Bajaj officials for extending their tie-up for the export markets. At present, Bajaj is exporting to South Asian markets like the Philippines through Kawasaki's distribution channels.