Yamaha-Bajaj war heats up
The Japanese giant and the Pune based auto major slug it out to become the supreme premium-bike maker in India.With the launch of the FZ16and the R15, Yamahahas re-kindled it's performance biking oriented brand image.
Yamaha has sold 11,000 units of the FZ16 in January 2009 inspite of the economic slowdown, while Bajaj Auto has registered a sales slump of 34% in the same month. Although the sales volume of the Yamaha FZ16 and R15 are not very high compared to their competitors, it has started to worry Bajaj Auto.
Out of the nine new models that Bajaj Auto will launch this year, five will be in the premium-bike segment. The Pune based manufacturer is expected to launch them by September end. On the other hand Yamaha is expected to launch a 150cc plus bike around June.
The sales volume of the Pulsar range of bikes is still at top position in the premium segment. However, the country's fourth largest bike maker is all set to improve it's brand image in the face of stiffer competition. According to Bajaj Auto, MD, Rajiv Bajaj, his company is planning to defend it's 50% market share in the premium segment. He also added that in classical marketing language it is known as 'defense strategy'.
Yamaha Motor India, CEO and MD, Yukimino Tsuji commented that Bajaj Auto is one of the leading Indian motorcycle manufacturers and is taking risks to expand. He further commented that Yamaha wants to establish their basic market first and then they can think of going to the next step.
[Via: BIKE]