Since the time Honda has won over TVS Motors, it has set it aims at where Bajaj Auto stands, the second position. With just 7000 units short in their Indian operations of standing leveling with Bajaj Auto, this doesn’t seem to be a far-off dream. Bajaj Auto Limited has recorded only a minor growth in the just bygone month, February. In January, Bajaj produced 2.02 lakh units, while showing an ignorable progress of reaching 2.04 units in February. However, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) progressed 11.2% higher in February than in January, with February sales standing at 1.97 lakh units. Bajaj, however, stands tallest among all, registering 5.73 lakh units for a time period of starting from April 2011 and February 2012; whereas HMSI seems to have fallen short by huge sitting at 1.783 million for the same months.
But Honda hopes to close in this narrow gap pretty easily. They plan to bring in an entry-level bike to compete with Bajaj Auto Limited. Before resigning as HMSI’s, VP, Sales, marketing, planning and corporate affairs, Mr. NK Rattan, had said that without a motorcycle that would entice the mass, Honda’s standing at No. 3, a step behind Bajaj. But t the soon-to-come Yuga 110cc in the mid of this year, the competition might get tough between the two rivals. Honda might pick up with its sales with Yuga 110cc in the market.
Honda has placed Yuga at quite an affordable price tag, Rs. 40,000. Yet another one from is the Honda CB Twister, which is again a low-priced one, at just Rs. 42,000. Yuga competes with CD Dawn, from the satchel of Hero MotoCorp, which as of now owns single-handedly the mass segment. Hero MotoCorp rules at at least a fifth part of the total two-wheeler Indian market. CD Dawn is currently running at Rs. 36,000 (ex-showroom Delhi price). Bajaj, being at no. 2 currently, couldn’t be seen to be standing out of competition. Bajaj’s Boxer 150cc, other than the only-export 100cc model, also is an entry level product at Rs. 42,000.
