Bajaj Auto has expressed plans for a comeback in the scooter segment.
Bajaj could soon make a comeback in the scooter segment with all new Chetak, the brand which made Bajaj a household name in the 80’s and 90’s.
While this time around, the Pune based two wheeler maker plans to go premium like its old friend Italian two-wheeler maker Vespa.
After exiting the scooter segment many years back and stating motorcycles are the way forward Bajaj had exited the scooter all together. The company also faced many failures like Krystal, Saffire, Spirit and Wave. The company also stopped the Chetak scooter completely as sales had dropped drastically.
While Honda and TVS stuck to two-wheelers and today have consolidated their market share. This year Honda Activa dethroned the Hero Splendor to become India’s largest two- wheeler in terms of sales and also the most popular scooter.
Come 2017-18, Bajaj is all set to enter the scooter segment again. However the company plans to enter the premium scooter segment and will launch a model to compete with Vespa. The scooter could be powered by a 125cc or 150cc single cylinder engine with good performance. Key highlights will be styling, premium colors, digital instrument cluster, lightweight chassis and long list of features.
Bajaj plans to do a Pulsar with the new Chetak and hopes the new brand will help to regain their position in the scooter segment which the company is currently absent.
Competing with the established rivals like Honda Activa, TVS Jupiter and Suzuki Access will be certainly tough and positioning it against the new Aprilia SR 150 & Vespa could help Bajaj give the scooter a premium appeal.
Bajaj could play the pricing card and will rely on the Chetak brand for its popularity.
Source – Gaadiwaadi