Bajaj Auto Ltd expects to step up exports while concentrating on increasing its domestic market share with a slew of launches during the year.

Eric Vas, President, Motorcycle Business, Bajaj Auto, said the company was averaging about 1,68,000 motorcycles a month in the domestic market and about 1,80,000 by export. Both these numbers are expected to go up during the year.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the new Bajaj Discover 150 in Andhra Pradesh, he said the new bike will help the company add about 20,000 units a month in the domestic market.

Vas said, “The company accounts for big export volumes to markets such as Nigeria, Egypt, Colombia, Philippines, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Most of these supplies are shipped as CKD kits (completely knocked down units) and are assembled in the destination markets. We may consider further localisation of assemblies in markets where we export.”

He said, “We continue to increase exports by increasing volumes in the countries where Bajaj Auto is already supplying motorcycles, but also looking at new markets.”

“We export more than 50 per cent of the bikes we make across three manufacturing facilities and are keen to up our share in the global market place. There is a big market out there for motorcycles and we have the range to cater to various segments. Even the proposed multi-cylinder bikes which we plan to make will be targeted at our export markets, he said.

Referring to the overall motorcycle market, he said last year it registered a growth of over eight per cent and this number is poised to go up. “Significantly, we are also looking at increasing our market share in the domestic market,” he said.

There is a perceptible shift in the preference of bike purchase with people constantly seeking to upgrade to higher capacity bikes, just like it happens with mobile phones where people look to upgrade to bigger and better phones, he said.

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