TVS Mulls mulls 200cc bike
23 Dec 2009
Chennai-based TVS Motor Co is mulling manufacturing bikes with higher engine capacity.
According to the H S Goindi, president, marketing, TVS may venture into the above-200cc motorcycle segment, as well as launch another bike in the 125cc segment next year apart from its mainstay, the Flame.
"If the market demands, we will look into the high-powered bike segment of above 200cc category," he said. He added, "Currently Flame is satisfying our market requirements but if demand arises we might look at another bike in the 125cc segment."
Goindy said the company has a "good-enough" portfolio with six bikes, two scooters and two mopeds in its stable.
The company has at present three bikes in the entry-level category including Sport, Start City and the newly launched clutchless 'Jive', and two bikes in the above 150 cc category - the Apache RTR 160 and the Apache RTR 180.
Jive was launched early this month in the Tamil Nadu market and will be rolled out in the rest of the country from January.
Goindi said TVS is looking at double-digit growth in the two-wheeler market this fiscal. As per Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers' (SIAM) data it had sold 11,36,344 units of two-wheelers in the domestic market in 2008-09.
Goindi said the company is tracking prices of steel and other raw materials, which have been rising recently, but added that TVS has no immediate plan to raise vehicle prices. ''We will review the situation after two-three months," he said.