Bajaj Auto

Infobox Company
company_name = Bajaj Auto Ltd
company_
company_type = Public
foundation = 1945
location =
key_people = flagicon|IND Rahul Bajaj (Chairman),flagicon|IND Rajiv Bajaj (Managing Director)
industry =
products =
revenue = gain Rs. 81,063 billion (2005) or USD 1.32 billion
operating_income =
net_income = gain Rs. 11,016 billion
num_employees = 10,250 (2006-07)
parent =
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.bajajauto.com www.bajajauto.com]
footnotes =

Bajaj Auto is a major Indian automobile manufacturer. It is India's largest and the world's 4th largest two- and three-wheeler makerFact|date=February 2008. It is based in Pune, Maharashtra, with plants in Akurdi and Chakan (near Pune),Waluj (near Aurangabad) and Pantnagar in Uttaranchal. Bajaj Auto makes and exports motorscooters, motorcycles and the auto rickshaw.

The Forbes Global 2000 list for the year 2005 ranked Bajaj Auto at 1946 [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/18/06f2000_The-Forbes-2000_Counrty_5.html The Forbes 2000 by Country] ] .

Over the last decade, the company has successfully changed its image from a scooter manufacturer to a two wheeler manufacturer. Its product range encompasses Scooterettes, Scooters and Motorcycles. Its real growth in numbers has come in the last four years after successful introduction of a few models in the motorcycle segment.

The company is headed by Rahul Bajaj who is worth more than US$1.5 billionFact|date=February 2008.

Company's history

Bajaj Auto came into existence on November 29, 1945 as M/s Bachraj Trading Corporation Private Limited. It started off by selling imported two- and three-wheelers in India. In 1959, it obtained license from the Government of India to manufacture two- and three-wheelers and it went public in 1960. In 1970, it rolled out its 100,000th vehicle. In 1977, it managed to produce and sell 100,000 vehicles in a single financial year. In 1985, it started producing at Waluj in Aurangabad. In 1986, it managed to produce and sell 500,000 vehicles in a single financial year. In 1995, it rolled out its ten millionth vehicle and produced and sold 1 million vehicles in a year.

According to the authors of "Globality: Competing with Everyone from Everywhere for Everything" [Sirkin, Harold L; James W. Hemerling, and Arindam K. Bhattacharya (2008-06-11). [http://www.bcg.com/globality "GLOBALITY: Competing with Everyone from Everywhere for Everything."] New York: Business Plus, 304. ISBN 0446178292.] , Bajaj has grown operations in 50 countries by creating a line of value-for-money bikes targeted to the different preferences of entry-level buyers with uality such that Kawasaki buys Bajaj products for some of its markets.

Timeline of new releases

* 1960-1970 - Vespa 150 - Under the licence of Piaggio of Italy
* 1971 - three-wheeler goods carrier
* 1972 - Bajaj Chetak
* 1976 - Bajaj Super
* 1977 - Rear engine Autorickshaw
* 1981 - Bajaj M-50
* 1986 - Bajaj M-80, Kawasaki Bajaj KB100
* 1990 - Bajaj Sunny
* 1991 - Kawasaki Bajaj 4S Champion
* 1994 - Bajaj Classic
* 1995 - Bajaj Super Excel
* 1997 - Kawasaki Bajaj Boxer, Rear Engine Diesel Autorickshaw
* 1998 - Kawasaki Bajaj Caliber, Bajaj Legend, India's first four-stroke scooter, Bajaj Spirit
* 2000 - Bajaj Saffire
* 2001 - Eliminator, Bajaj Pulsar
* 2003 - Caliber115, Bajaj Wind 125, Bajaj Pulsar
* 2004 - Bajaj CT 100, New Bajaj Chetak 4-stroke with Wonder Gear, Bajaj Discover DTS-i
* 2005 - Bajaj Wave, Bajaj Avenger, Bajaj Discover
* 2006 - Bajaj Platina
* 2007 - Bajaj Pulsar-200(Oil Cooled), Bajaj Kristal,Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi(Fuel Injection) , XCD 125 DTS-Si (Pronounced Exceed 125 DTS-Si)

pinoffs and acquisitions

It has been reported that Bajaj is headed for a de-merger into two separate companies: Bajaj Auto and Bajaj Finance. It is expected that the sum of the parts created will be worth more that the current whole, as was the case in the de-merger of Reliance Industries. [cite news|url=http://www.businessworld.in/content/view/466/516/|title=Why Two Bajajs Are Better Than One|date=|author=S. Kalyana Ramanthan|publisher=Businessworld|accessdate=2007-07-22]

In November 2007, Bajaj Auto acquired 14.5% stake in KTM Power Sports AG (holding company of KTM Sportmotocycles AG). The two companies have signed a cooperation deal, by which KTM will provide the know-how for joint development of the water-cooled 4 stroke 125 and 250 cc engines, and Bajaj will take over the distribution of KTM products in India and some other Southeast Asian nations. [cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKey
|title=Bajaj Auto takes 14.5% stake in KTM Sports|date=2007-11-05|publisher=business-standard.com|accessdate=2007-12-03] . Bajaj Auto said it is open to take a majority stake in KTM and is also looking at other takeover opportunities. On the 8th of January 2008, Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj confirmed the collaboration and announced Bajaj Auto's intention to gradually increase their stake in KTM to 25%. [cite news|title=Bajaj to develop bikes with partner KTM|date=2008-01-10|author=Rina Chandran|publisher=Reuters India|accessdate=2007-01-11]

Products

Some of the models that Bajaj makes (or has made including prototypes) are:

cooters

* Bajaj Kristal DTSi

Cars

* Bajaj Lite concept
* Bajaj ULC (ultra-low cost)- the Tata Nano competitor. [ [http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/05/bajaj-auto-and.html#more Green Car Congress: Bajaj Auto and Renault-Nissan Form JV To Build Ultra Low Cost Car ] ]

Motorcycles

* Bajaj CT 100
* Bajaj Platina
* Bajaj Discover 110cc
* Bajaj Discover DTS-i 125cc
* Bajaj XCD 125 DTS-Si
* Bajaj Discover DTS-i 135cc
* Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi
* Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSi
* Bajaj Pulsar 200 DTSi
* Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi
* Bajaj Avenger

Upcoming Models

* Bajaj Sonic
* Bajaj Discover 150
* Bajaj XCD 125 sprint

Discontinued Models

* Bajaj Sunny
* Bajaj Chetak
* Bajaj Cub
* Bajaj Super
* Bajaj Saffire
* Bajaj Wave
* Bajaj Legend
* Bajaj Bravo
* Kawasaki Eliminator
* Bajaj Kawasaki Wind 125
* Bajaj Kawasaki 4s Champion
* Bajaj Kawasaki KB 100 RTZ
* Bajaj Boxer
* Bajaj Caliber
* Bajaj Wind

Low cost cars

Bajaj Auto says its $2,500 car, which it is building with Renault and Nissan Motor, will aim at a fuel-efficiency of 30 km/litre, or twice an average small car, and carbon dioxide emissions of 100 gm/km. [ [http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/37437 ENN: How green is my low-cost car? India revs up debate ] ]

It is a Tata Nano competitor. The Bajaj venture will have an initial capacity of 400,000 units, while Tata expects eventual demand of 1 million Nanos.

References

External links

* [http://www.bajajauto.com/ Bajaj Auto Ltd]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7431968.stm Tata rival bullish about Nano] , BBC, 2008-06-05, chairman Rahul Bajaj speaks to BBC's Chris Morris about prospects