Bajaj Auto looks overseas for growth

In Nigeria, Bajaj said a simple assembly plant will be set up.

The company also has plans for Pakistan, where, Bajaj said, the roadmap was ready and it would go ahead after obtaining the requisite approvals.

On its domestic business, S Sridhar, Bajaj Auto’s vice-president said the company will identify 20 dealers across the country who would have to generate 100 per cent more business. This is part of the company’s strategy to regain the market share it lost to rivals.

Bajaj also has plans to work with self-help-groups and conduct mega fairs in villages to attract potential rural customers.

Presently, the average monthly sales of a rural dealer is 200 vehicles. Now, a dealer will be given a monthly target of 500 vehicles per month.

The company has 1,800 rural service outlets (RSOs), he said.

As for the urban markets, Bajaj Auto will appoint urban growth dealers and urban counters to push sales. Dealers with 2,000 vehicle sales per month will be eligible for the appointment as growth dealers.

‘‘At present a city dealer sells around 800 to 1,000 vehicles a month, and in peak sales season, it will be at 2,000 vehicles,’’ he said.

The company will appoint high-end/pro-biking dealers in top 10 cities including metros to showcase Bajaj technology and high-end offerings. The company’s market base comprises 51 per cent rural customers and 49 per cent urban customers.

In order to attract more mileage-conscious customers, Bajaj Auto launched a stripped-down version of Bajaj Discover DTS i. The new 112 cc bike has been priced at Rs 39,000 (ex-showroom), which gives a mileage of 72 kilometers to a litre of petrol.

(The correspondent was in Goa at the invitation of Bajaj)