Bajaj to sell 1.5 mn vehicles in FY04

Bajaj Auto Ltd on Thursday said it would record its highest-ever motorcycle sales of over one million units this fiscal as it gears up to launch four new two-wheeler models to boost its share in the world's second largest two-wheeler market.

Bajaj Auto joint managing director Rajiv Bajaj told reporters that the total two and three-wheeler sales would touch 1.5 million units during the year ending March 31, 2004. The company also expects to clock an over 50 per cent growth in exports to about 160,000 units during 2003-04, Bajaj said at the ongoing Auto Expo in New Delhi.

Unveiling its new model and sales plans for this year and the brand new logo of Bajaj Auto, Rajiv Bajaj said exports of three motorcycles -- Byk, Caliber 115 and Wind 125 – to Philippines would start next month through collaboration with its technical partner, Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

"This will be the first real step to sell two-wheelers in the South East Asian region," Bajaj said, adding that the three motorcycles would be assembled from knocked down kits and sold by 600 dealers in Philippines.

"Last fiscal, we exported 94,000 vehicles. During April-December 2003, we have already sold close to 110,000 units. By the year-end, we should sell 150,000-160,000 units, which is a growth of over 50 per cent. Next fiscal, it will be over 200,000 units," Bajaj said.

In value terms, exports would increase to Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) during 2003-04 and to over Rs 650 crore (Rs 6.50 billion) in 2004-05, he added.

Besides, exports to Iran would commence this month, while it is also planning to open an office in Nigeria, he said.

BAL also plans to make three-wheelers in Indonesia through a joint venture with its distributor there within 3-6 months. The company now has a tie-up with a distributor in Brazil to assemble three-wheelers in that country.

On the new models, vice president (business development and marketing) R L Ravichandran said two new motorcycles would be launched in 2004. This would include a 100cc model which would provide 100 kmpl in standard test conditions.

The next motorcycle, would be powered by a modern DTSi engine and would be rolled out by July. BAL would also introduce two scooters -- a four-stroke 125cc Chetak model and a 110cc automatic model called Wave.

He said the launch of the new models would help the company achieve a planned 100 per cent increase in sales.