New Delhi, July 18, 2007: Instead of the usual discounts to beat monsoon slowdown, bike-makers are going for better product mix to boost sales this year. The Country’s second largest twowheeler manufacturer, Bajaj Auto, has already firmed up plans to launch higher capacity bikes during this quarter. The new bikes would come in several variants with a price band of around Rs. 40,000.

As quoted by Mr. S Sridhar, CEO, Bajaj Auto, “Offering discounts is wasting money and hence we have decided to bring in better product-mix”.

Market leader Hero Honda is also banking on the same strategy. “We would continue to follow our strategy of launching new products to increase the customer base. We have already launched two products –– Splendor NXG and the refreshed Pleasure –– recently and more new products including variants are lined up for the coming months,” a company spokesperson said.

Industry sources say Hero Honda would launch the refurbished version of its existing models—either Glamour or the CD Dawn—in a month or two.

The motorcycle market is witnessing a decline on a month-to-month basis. In June, overall motorcycle sales declined 17% to 4.37 lakh units. During April-June the bike market dipped by 14% to 13.78 lakh units as against 16.12 lakh during the corresponding period of the previous year.