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      Bajaj Dominar 400 Biggest Discount Ever – Clearance Sale At Rs 1.99 L

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      At Rs 1.99 lakh, Bajaj Dominar 400 comes across as an irresistible deal; can help boost salesImage – Shahrukh AkhtarTowards the end of the financial year, it is common to see auto companies launching special offers and discounts. The obvious reason is to improve the year’s balance sheet as much as possible. Many consumers wait for such opportunities, something that has potential to boost sales.In 2023, the mandatory compliance to BS6 Phase 2 emission norms is another reason why auto companies may be looking to clear old inventory. A relevant example is Bajaj Dominar 400, which is being offered by select dealers at huge discount of Rs 25,000.Discounts to boost salesWith the discount, Dominar 400 is available at just Rs 1,99,991 at select dealers. Dominar 400 has always been one of the most affordable bikes in its class. At the time of its launch in 2016, Dominar 400 was available at Rs 1.36 lakh. Over the years, prices have increased multiple times. The bike has also evolved in terms of its features and equipment list.However, even though it is affordably priced and loaded with hi-tech features, Dominar 400 has been an underperformer. This is especially true when compared to the 10k per month sales target that was initially set for the bike. Apparently, those goals haven’t materialized. In comparison, Dominar 250 has better numbers to show. Another interesting aspect is that Dominar 400 exports have been higher than domestic sales.Bajaj Dominar Discounts 2023But Dominar 400 does have a niche fan following. And folks who may have had Dominar 400 on their wish list will surely be looking to make use of the Rs 25k discount being offered. It is unlikely that such huge discounts will be offered anytime soon. As there will be limited inventory, the discount will be offered on a first come first serve basis.A case of price correction / slow demand?There are suggestions that recent discounts being offered by auto companies could be a case of price correction. As may be recalled, prices of two-wheelers have increased multiple times over the last two years. Moreover, there was a significant spike in demand post the pandemic. Things have now become close to normalized in terms of input costs and demand.So, in case of low volume products, it may be a good strategy to launch discount schemes. A good example is that of Honda CB300F, where prices were reduced by Rs 50k last year in December. This was a significant price cut, making CB300F available at around the same price point of bikes like Dominar 250 and Suzuki Gixxer 250.With BS6 Phase 2 norms coming into effect from April 01, 2023, there are speculations that other OEMs may also introduce special offers and discounts to boost sales. Whether or not that is true remains to be seen. It can work in case of bikes that have high inventory and slow sales. In case of Dominar 400, the discount could also be due to upcoming rivals such as TVS Apache RTR 310. More

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      River Electric Scooter Launch Price Rs 1.25 L – Range 120 Km

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      Bangalore based River EV has launched their first electric scooter today – Called Indie, the SUV of scootersRiver Electric Scooter LaunchBengaluru-based EV startup River has launched its maiden vehicle named Indie, at an asking price of Rs. 1.25 lakh (ex-sh). It comes in three colours – Spring Yellow, Summer Red and Monsoon Blue. Bookings are open, deliveries are set to commence in August 2023. It is geared toward practicality as seen by its features list.Deliveries will start in Bengaluru first and then the company intends to expand its presence in 50 cities pan India by next year. At Rs. 1.25 lakh, River Indie seems to be a fitting alternative to Ola S1 Pro, Ather 450X, Hero Vida V1 pro, TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak.Design Elements – River Indie EVRiver Indie looks like a hybrid between Yamaha Neo’s EV and Yamaha BWs 125 ICE scooter. Front apron and instrument cluster reminds us of BWs 125 and twin LED headlight shape reminds us of Neo’s. There are a lot of ADV-like elements including ‘Safeguards’ (crash guards), lock-n-load panniers (up to 40L), and a provision for top-box (up to 25L).Sleek tail lights and turn indicators are all LED. River gets clip-on handlebars too. There is a tall windscreen on offer as well, which is likely to be a part of accessories. Just like its top box, panniers and more.River Electric ScooterRiver Electric Scooter gets front-set footpegs too, ensuring maximum use of floorboard. Componentry include 14” alloy wheels, 240mm and 200mm disc (front/rear), twin rear shock absorbers, front telescopic forks and more. Indie comes with CBS system and 165 mm ground clearance too.River Electric ScooterPowertrainRiver has thoughtfully offered 12L storage in the front apron and a massive 43L under-seat storage (with a light and USB port). Other elements include 90-degree valve stems for wheels, USB charging port on the handlebar, and a sturdy hook integrated into its seat.River Indie electric scooter is offered with a large 4 kWh battery pack. A standard charger is bundled with this package, capable of 0-80% in 5 hours. The mid-mounted motor is rated at a peak power of 6.7 kW and 26 Nm. With a belt drive powering its rear wheel, Indie can sprint from 0-40 km/h in 3.9 seconds and touch 90 km/h top speed. Real-world range is pegged at 120 km.River Electric Scooter SpecsPower is regulated via three riding modes – Eco, Ride and Rush. Rider can toggle through these modes with switchgear and is indicated in the colourful LCD dashboard. River Indie EV boasts gradability of up to 18 degrees, more than 15 degrees of Ola S1 Pro and less than 20 degrees of Ather 450X.At Rs. 1.25 lakh (ex-sh, Bengaluru), River Indie poses a unique proposition. It is backed by a 5 year / 50,000 km warranty. Upon launch, it will rival the likes of Ola S1 Pro, Chetak, Ather 450X, TVS iQube and Vida V1 Pro. More

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      Firm (GM) directed to refund cost or replace defective electric scooter

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      Case Study on OLA Electric Scooter (Pro Midnight blue, 3.975KWH) and Consumer Protection and Redressal MechanismsOla Electric ScooterThe Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was introduced to safeguard consumers against unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. Let’s analyze a case study that involves the purchase of an OLA Electric Scooter (Pro Midnight blue, 3.975KWH) and the complaint filed against OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The case highlights the importance of consumer rights, redressal mechanisms, and responsibilities of businesses towards their customers.Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides legal remedies to consumers who have been affected by unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. In this case, the complainant purchased an OLA Electric Scooter from OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and faced charging problems from the date of delivery.The complainant approached the servicing centre, but they did not respond properly. Forty days before filing the complaint, the servicing centre took the vehicle for repair and did not rectify the defect. The complainant filed a complaint seeking refund for scooter costs of INR 1,93,000 and INR 3,00,000 towards damages, pain, suffering, and mental agony.Complaint and Response; Legal ProceedingsComplaint filed under Section 35 of Consumer Protection Act 2019, seeking redressal for the problems faced with the OLA Electric Scooter. The opposite party, General Manager, OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd., did not appear before the District Consumer Redressal Commission at Khammam, despite being served notice. The complainant stated that they suffered a lot of pain and mental agony due to the attitude and conduct of the opposite party.According to the job record, the complainant’s vehicle was held in the service station for over five months. The complainant submitted a memo stating that despite the prolonged period of time, the issues with the vehicle such as charging, starting, and Bluetooth and sensor functionality were not resolved, and the vehicle was only returned to the complainant on 11-12-2022.The District Consumer Redressal Commission at Khammam analyzed the case and passed an order. The Commission directed the opposite party to either provide a genuine and appropriate replacement for the faulty vehicle, or issue a refund of the sum of Rs.1,63,549. And to pay Rs. 10,000 for deficient services, damages, and mental agony, and another Rs. 10,000 for litigation costs to the complainant.Analysis of the CaseThe case highlights the importance of consumer rights and the responsibilities of businesses towards their customers. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides a legal framework for consumers to seek redressal for unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. In this case, the complainant had a legitimate grievance against the opposite party, and the Commission passed an order in favour of the complainant.The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 empowers consumers to seek legal remedies against unfair trade practices, defective products, and deficient services. The case study involving the purchase of an OLA Electric Scooter and the complaint filed against OLA Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (General Manager) highlights the importance of consumer rights and responsibilities of businesses towards their customers.Businesses must ensure that products and services meet the expected quality standards. And they must address customer grievances promptly. In conclusion, the case emphasises the need for businesses to be accountable and responsible towards customers. And the legal system provides consumers with the necessary tools to seek redressal for their grievances. Consumers are now well-informed and have the necessary legal framework to seek redressal for grievances. More

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      2023 Bajaj Pulsar 220F At Dealer Showroom – First Walkaound

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      Bajaj Pulsar 220F was discontinued last year – But thanks to popular demand, it has now been relaunchedImage – The Sameer VlogsFirst launched in 2007, the Bajaj Pulsar 220 semi faired sport bike marked its foray into the entry level sports bike segment. It was a game changer for the company as well. It ruled the segment for close to 15 years following which it was pulled out of production in April 2022 once the new Pulsar F250 was launched in the country.2023 Pulsar 220F comes in with the same 220cc oil-cooled SOHC engine offering 20.4 hp power mated to 5 speed gearbox. Pulsar 220F was priced at Rs 1.25 lakh prior to it being discontinued. In 2023 avatar, it is priced from Rs 1.39 lakh, ex-sh.2023 Bajaj Pulsar 220F WalkaroundBajaj Pulsar 220F has entered production, initial examples have moved into company dealerships and deliveries are likely to commence soon. Ahead of that, we now have a first look walkaround of the 2023 Pulsar 220F, thanks to Biker Prakash Choudhary.Positioned below the NS200 and N250 in the Pulsar lineup, the new 220F will come in with some feature updates. Overall design remains akin to that seen on its earlier counterpart. This semi-faired bike sports a distinctive headlamp and engine cowl, shoulder fairing, large windscreen and clip on handlebars.[embedded content][embedded content]It gets projector headlamp, halogen turn indicators along with LED tail lamps. There are decals which give the look of carbon fiber to some parts. Split seats, upswept exhaust and colour combinations of black-blue / black-red are also seen.Engine BS 6 Phase 2 CompliantAs a major part of the updates, the re-launch of Bajaj Pulsar 220F will see its engine now compliant with OBD2 on board diagnostic technologies, a feature that is being made mandatory from 1st April 2023. The 220cc, fuel injected engine will make 20.8 hp power at 8,500 rpm and 18.5 Nm torque at 7,000 rpm mated to a 5 speed gearbox.It will receive telescopic forks in the front and dual shocks at the rear while braking will be via front and disc brakes with single channel ABS offered as standard. Dual ABS is not on offer yet.It will ride on 17 inch alloy wheels fitted with 90 section front and 120 sector rear tubeless tyres. Like its predecessor, the new Pulsar 220F will continue its rivalry against the likes of TVS Apache, Suzuki Gixxer SF and others in this price segment. More

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      Royal Enfield Sales Breakup Jan 2023 – Bullet, Meteor, Himalayan

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      There was a decent growth registered by Royal Enfield sales for January 2023 in domestic market, but exports plummetedImage – Being TechnozzDomestic market is where Royal Enfield shows commendable growth in both YoY and MoM analysis. With 67,702 units sold in the domestic market, Royal Enfield saw a YoY growth of 36.15% over 49,726 units sold a year ago and 13.17% MoM growth as opposed to 59,821 units sold a month before. Volume growth is 17,976 units YoY and 7,881 units MoM.The highest-seller for RE in India is Classic 350 with a 38.60% market share. RE sold 26,134 Classic 350 and saw 26.36% MoM growth. With 5,452 units of volume growth. There was a 2.39% YoY decline, which is better than the 40.44% YoY decline found in December 2022. Hunter 350 secured 2nd place with a 24.48% market share.Royal Enfield Sales – Domestic MarketAs opposed to 17,261 units sold a month before, Hunter’s sales fell short with 16,574 units with a small 3.98% MoM decline. Bullet 350 is next on this list with 9,685 units sold last month. The evergreen Bullet managed to register 31.70% YoY growth and 9.86% MoM growth. Volume gain stood at 2,331 units YoY and 869 units MoM.Bullet was followed by Meteor 350 with 7,622 units sold in January 2023. Even though Meteor sales dropped by 9.91% YoY, there was a 21.02% growth MoM. Electra 350 sold 4,208 units with 58.73% YoY growth and 24.46% MoM growth. Volume gain for Electra 350 stood at 1,557 units YoY and 827 units MoM.Royal Enfield Domestic Sales Jan 2023ADV Himalayan sold 2,499 units which accounted for a 3.69% share of the domestic market. Sales weren’t enough to beat 3,248 units sold in 2022 and saw a 23.06% YoY decline. It fared better in MoM analysis with 10.72% growth. Lastly, we have 650 Twins with 980 units sold. 650 twins saw a 20.84% YoY decline and a 12.97% MoM decline.Royal Enfield Sales – ExportsRE’s flagship 650 lineup might have come last in the domestic market. But it tops in exports as it is the highest-shipped motorcycle from Royal Enfield. With 2,101 units shipped, it registered a 43.46% YoY decline as opposed to 3,716 units shipped last year. But, there is a staggering 516.13% MoM growth as RE shipped 341 units of 650 Twins in December 2022.Due to this, 650 Twins are accountable for 24.49% of RE’s total exports. Hunter 350 is 2nd with 1,810 units shipped with 9.23% MoM growth and 153 units volume gain. Classic 350 is pushed down with just 1,517 units shipped last month. Classic 350 saw a 25.71% YoY decline and a 42.80% MoM decline. Market share went from 30.91% to just 17.68% in just a month.Royal Enfield Exports Jan 2023Himalayan exports were at 983 units last month. It wasn’t enough to beat 1,050 units shipped a year ago and 1,531 units shipped a month before. In effect, Himalayan’s numbers declined by 6.38% YoY and 35.79% MoM. Volume lost was 67 units YoY and 548 units MoM. Lastly, we have Meteor 350 at 633 units.Meteor 350 fell into the red completely with a 72.53% YoY decline and a 73.60% MoM decline. In total, Royal Enfield shipped 7,044 units in January 2023. The company registered a 22.70% YoY decline as opposed to 9,112 units shipped in Jan 2022 and 17.89% MoM decline as opposed to 8,579 units shipped in December 2022. More

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      Lapa Electric Scooter Carbon Fiber Chassis – First In India

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      Tougher and lighter than steel, carbon fibre is used across segments such as aerospace, military, civil engineering and motorsportsLapa Electric Scooter Carbon Fiber ChassisElectric two-wheeler segment has witnessed a plethora of new brands, along with tons of innovation and unique design formats. A relevant example is EV startup Lapa Electric that has been working to create entirely new experiences for users.Expected to launch its first electric scooter soon, Lapa has unveiled a first-of-its kind carbon fibre monocoque chassis. This is a first for the electric two-wheeler industry in India.Lapa Electric carbon fibre monocoque chassisCarbon fibre has been here for quite some time, with commercial production occurring since several decades. However, its use in everyday commuter two-wheelers is something new. The carbon fibre monocoque chassis prototyped by Lapa is so lightweight that it can be easily lifted over the head. While the weight of the chassis has not been revealed, it could be around 5-10 kg.Creating the same structure in metal would have increased the weight by a significant percentage. It will depend on the type of metal used such as steel, aluminium or other alloys. While it is featherweight and seems quite fragile, Lapa claims that their carbon fibre monocoque chassis is five times stronger than a similar structure made from steel. It’s stiffer as well, which means it won’t be easily bent or deformed.[embedded content][embedded content]Carbon fibre offers various other advantages such as low thermal expansion, chemical resistance and high strength to weight ratio. While metal chassis and plastic panelling weaken with time, a carbon fibre chassis will be largely immune to things like corrosion, UV rays and humidity.While offering improved durability, Lapa’s carbon fibre monocoque chassis will also allow higher power-to-weight ratio. Range could also be higher. It could be equipped with a relatively smaller battery pack and yet offer adequate range, comparable to industry standards. A small battery pack will help reduce cost of the vehicle.Pricing hitchWhile carbon fibre offers several advantages, the one reason why it is not widely used is its expensive pricing. Compared to steel, the price of carbon fibre is around 10 times more. It remains to be seen how folks at Lapa will be dealing with this challenge. Or Lapa’s first electric scooter could be positioned as a lifestyle product, in which case, it can be launched at premium pricing.In addition to the carbon fibre monocoque chassis, Lapa electric scooter will have various other USPs. For example, it is expected to offer best-in-segment storage space. Another interesting detail is spider-web inspired alloy wheels that enhance the scooter’s dynamic profile. Innovations have also been introduced across other components such as the swingarm and suspension setup. More details will be revealed at the time of launch. More

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      Top 10 500cc+ Motorcycles Jan 2023 – RE 650, Ninja, Tiger, Hayabusa

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      The start of 2023 hasn’t been great for top 500cc+ motorcycles as there was a drop in sales of 20% YoYRoyal Enfield Super Meteor 650Big bikes are not selling as much as they used to before. After the decline reported by this segment in Dec 2022, it was speculated that sales would pick up as 2023 starts, but that has not happened in Jan 2023. In total, top 500cc+ motorcycles segment for the month of January 2023, accounted for 1,256 units as opposed to 1,570 units sold a year ago. This is a 20% decline in sales, as opposed to 2022 figures and volume loss, which stood at 314 units YoY.RE 650 twins sales have fallen below 1,000 mark at 980 units as opposed to 1,238 units sold in 2022. Launch of new Super Meteor 650 last month did not provide a boost in sales. This directly contributed to a decline of 20.84% YoY and a volume loss of 258 units. Royal Enfield’s market share in 500cc+ motorcycles segment is 78%. With the launch of Super Meteor, sales might pick up soon.500cc+ Motorcycles – Jan 2023 SalesKawasaki struck a streak with Z900, ZX-10R and Ninja 650 at 2nd, 3rd and 4th spots selling 67, 28, and 23 units respectively. All three saw positive YoY growth with ZX-10R registering 115.38% growth YoY. Suzuki has an advantage too as V-Strom 650 and Hayabusa sold 22 units each and secured 5th and 6th spots with positive growth YoY.Triumph Tiger 660 and Trident 660 sold 20 and 19 units respectively. Trident 660 lost 24% sales YoY. Kawasaki secured 9th and 10th spots with Versys 650 and Ninja 1000 by selling 15 and 9 units respectively. Where Versys 650 saw 36.36% YoY growth, Ninja 1000 SX saw a 35.71% YoY decline. Triumph Tiger 1200 only managed to sell 7 units in Jan 2023.500cc+ Motorcycle Sales Jan 2023Kawasaki Vulcan S and Triumph Rocket III managed to sell 4 units each. Vulcan saw a decline of 20% YoY and Rocket III with the largest production motorcycle engine in the world, declined by 69.23% YoY as opposed to 13 units sold in 2022. Kawasaki Z650 RS, Triumph Bonneville T120, Suzuki Katana, Honda Goldwing, Harley-Davidson Fat Bob and Fat Boy 114 all sold 3 units each last month.None of these above-mentioned motorcycles registered any positive growth with Harley-Davidson Fat Bob showing the steepest decline of 62.50% YoY. Kawasaki Z650, Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic, Triumph Street Scrambler, Tiger 900, Bonneville Speedmaster and Speed Triple are the ones with 2 units sold each.Out of these, Triumph Speed Triple doubled its figure from 1 unit sold last year to 2. Rest saw a decline in sales. All the big bikes that sold 1 unit each don’t show any kind of positive growth. These include Kawasaki W800, Versys 1000, Triumph Speed Twin, Harley-Davidson Roadking and Street Glide. Out of these Triumph Speed Twin suffered the most losses at 85.71% YoY decline.Big Bikes With Zero Sales- Jan 2023There are 44 entries in this list and almost a quarter of this list has sold zero units in the entire country in a month’s time. Motorcycles like Honda CBR650R, selling 20 units last year, have hit a wall. Other big bikes include Triumph Street Triple, Street Twin, Bonneville Bobber, Harley-Davidson Sportster S, 883 Iron, Forty Eight, Pan America, Electra Glide, Road Glide, Kawasaki ZH2, Aprilia RSV4 Factory and Tuono V4. More

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      Yamaha Sales Jan 2023 YoY Vs MoM – R15, MT15, FZS, FZ25

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      Yamaha has updated their motorcycle and scooter range to meet the new BS6 Phase 2 normsNew Yamaha FZ V4.0Yamaha India has done well in domestic markets reporting a 9.80 percent YoY and 31.60 percent MoM growth. However, exports have dipped YoY and MoM by 7.95 percent and 18.20 percent respectively. Yamaha domestic sales stood at 39,688 units in Jan 2023. This was a 9.80 percent YoY growth over 36,146 units sold in Jan 2022. MoM sales also improved by 31.60 percent from 30,157 units sold in Dec 2022.Yamaha Sales Jan 2023With FZ series once again in the lead after falling to No. 3 in Dec 2022, sales stood at 12,822 units last month, down 18.51 percent YoY from 15,734 units sold in Jan 2022. It was a MoM growth of 110.09 percent when compared to 6,103 units sold in Dec 2022. Share improved to 32.31 percent in the past month from 20.24 percent held in Dec 2022.Yamaha MT15 was at No. 2 with 8,738 units sold in Jan 2023 up 51300 percent over just 17 units sold in Jan 2022. It was also a 169.11 percent MoM growth from 3,247 units sold in Dec 2022. Up next was the R15 with sales of 7,925 units in the past month, up 28.95 percent when compared to 6,146 units sold in Jan 2022. It was a MoM growth of 16.08 percent from 6,827 units sold in Dec 2022.At No. 4 was the Yamaha RayZR with sales de-growth both on YoY and MoM basis. It was down 26.87 percent to 5,141 units in Jan 2023 from 7,030 units sold in Jan 2022 while in Dec 2022 sales had stood at 9,713 units relating to a 47.07 percent MoM dip in demand.Yamaha India Sales Jan 2023 vs Jan 2022 – YoYYamaha Fascino sales fell 35.03 percent YoY to 4,042 units in Jan 2023 while there had been 6,221 units sold in Jan 2022. MoM sales also fell 5.25 percent over 4,266 units sold in Dec 2022. This took share percent down to 10.18 in the past month from 14.15 percent held in Dec 2022. FZ25 has been doing well in terms of sales reporting a2.20 percent YoY growth to 1,020 units in Jan 2023 while MoM sales improved 101900 percent from just 1 units sold in Dec 2022.Yamaha Exports Jan 2023In export markets, sales dipped 7.95 percent YoY to 18,215 units in the past month from 19,788 units shipped in Jan 2022. MoM exports were also in the red down by 18.20 percent from 22,269 units sold in Dec 2022. Here also it was the Yamaha FZ that led the sales charts despite a YoY and MoM de-growth. Sales stood at 8,756 units in the past month.Sales of the Saluto were more positive with a 375 percent YoY growth to 2,850 units while MoM exports improved by 33.18 percent. It also improved sales for the MT15 to 1,502 units in Jan 2023 relating to a 838.75 percent YoY and 525.83 percent MoM improvement in exports.Yamaha India Sales Jan 2023 vs Dec 2022 – MoMThe export list also included RayZR (1,464 units), FZ25 (1,288 units) and Saluto RX(1,156 units). Saluto RX exports dipped MoM by 75.60 percent as there had been 4,738 units shipped in Dec 2022. Thereafter, exports of all other models on this list remained low. Yamaha SZ (636 units) saw flat MoM growth while R15 (508 units), Fascino (55 units) suffered YoY and MoM de-growth. Yamaha YD125 and Crux exports were down to 0 units. More