Bajaj Pulsar is a popular motorcycle brand in the country and one of the bestselling products in the company’s portfolio. In July, Bajaj Pulsar was ranked at fifth position in the list of top 10 bestselling motorcycles, registering sales of 62,469 units.
Pulsar range starts at Rs 66,000 (Pulsar 125) and goes all the way up to Rs 1,40,237 (Pulsar RS200). Prices of all Pulsar motorcycles are expected to increase after they are upgraded to meet BS-VI fuel emission norms. Increase in prices is expected in the range of 10-15%.
In July also, Bajaj had increased prices of its motorcycles including Pulsar range. However, this was probably due to rising input costs. BS-VI compliant Bajaj motorcycles are expected to be available for sale sometime in early 2020.
The company is currently waiting to get the official BS-VI certification from ARAI. Upgraded Bajaj Pulsar motorcycles will come with fuel injection system (FI) and may also offer other new features. However, there is unlikely to be any major difference in performance of upgraded Pulsar bikes.
Just like Bajaj, other two-wheeler manufacturers are also upgrading their products to meet the new emission norms. Customers can expect a price hike for most two-wheeler models in the country. As per a Supreme Court order issued last year, all vehicles need to comply with BS-VI from April 1, 2020.
The other alternative for customers is to choose electric vehicles (EVs), on which they can also claim subsidy being provided by the government. It has been reported that Bajaj and KTM are planning to develop a high-end electric motorcycle. This product could be launched by 2022.
Bajaj will also be re-entering the scooter segment in a new avatar called Urbanite. The company once ruled the scooter segment and it certainly has the expertise and experience to launch a successful product in this space. Urbanite brand will be positioned as a premium product and offered in both petrol and electric variants. Powered by a 125 cc engine (petrol) and featuring a retro design, Urbanite will take on rivals such as Suzuki Access 125 and Vespa 125 range. Urbanite will be BS-VI compliant from day one.
