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      Hero Vida Electric Scooter Launch Delayed To End 2022 – Here’s Why

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      Upon launch of the upcoming Hero Vida electric scooter from Hero MotoCorp, it will take on the likes of Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQubeImage for reference.After months of anticipation, Hero MotoCorp had announced the launch of a new subsidiary brand called Vida which will handle all operations in the electric vehicle (EV) space. The company’s entry into electric mobility had been discussed extensively over the last few months.There were also questions regarding what brand name the bikemaker adopts for its EV business since rights for the ‘Hero’ brand are exclusively held by the Naveen Munjal-led firm Hero Electric. By opting for the brand name ‘Vida’, Hero MotoCorp has avoided all legal tangles and should now be able to focus solely on product development.Hero Vida Electric Scooter DelayedThe first model to come out of this new Vida brand will be an electric scooter which was earlier teased in August last year during the company’s 10th anniversary celebration. This electric scooter was planned for launch on 1st July 2022, which is also the birth anniversary of Dr. Brijmohan Lall, Chairman Emeritus of Hero MotoCorp. But that is not going to be the case now. As per the latest update from Hero MotoCorp, launch has been delayed to festive season 2022.Mr. Swadesh Srivastava, Head of Emerging Mobility Business Unit (EMBU), said, “In line with our philosophy of providing the highest quality products to our customers, we remain committed to bringing the best of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for our customers across the globe. The ongoing geopolitical situation has resulted in enormous supply chain issues and shortage of various components, including semiconductors. Keeping customers as the top-most priority, we, therefore, feel it would be prudent to unveil the first EV product around the upcoming festive period instead of July as earlier announced. We are accordingly gearing up for the launch of VIDA – Powered by Hero – in the festive season.”Hero MotoCorp Electric Scooter – Under VIDA BrandIt is worth mentioning that the two-wheeler giant filed multiple trademarks for the name ‘Vida’ back in November last year. These included trademarks like Vida Electric, Vida Mobility, Vida EV, Vida MotoCorp, Vida Scooters, and Vida Motorcycles. Production of the upcoming e-scooter and other battery-powered models will be carried out at Hero’s new manufacturing plant in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.Significance Of the name ‘Vida’Deliveries of the electric scooter are expected to begin post launch. During the unveiling of the brand’s logo and the ‘sunrise’ visual identity of Vida, Dr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp, gave some insights about the brand name. He revealed that Vida means life, and the brand’s sole purpose is to create a positive impact on the world and move us all forward in meaningful ways.On this occasion, Hero MotoCorp also rolled out a US$100 Million Global Sustainability Fund. This fund will aim to establish global partnerships, spearheaded by the BML Munjal University (BMU) and Hero MotoCorp, with the objective of nurturing more than 10,000 entrepreneurs on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) solutions that have a positive impact on the planet.Expected Details of Upcoming E-scooterHero MotoCorp has been tight-lipped about details of the upcoming electric scooter, however, an earlier teaser shed some light on it. The e-scooter sports a conventional underbone design and stands on 12-inch front and 10-inch rear black alloy wheels. It also didn’t feature a hub-mounted motor which means it could be powered by a mid-ship mounted electric motor with a belt drive.While the launch of the scooter is delayed, by the time deliveries start later this year, there would be enough charging stations set up at Bharat Petroleum pumps in most of the major cities. Given the nature of Hero MotoCorp’s business, we expect the upcoming electric scooter to be priced aggressively around Rs 1.5 lakh, ex-sh. More

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      Hero MotoCorp Sales May 2022 – Splendor, Passion, Destini, Xpulse

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      Hero MotoCorp has reported a 165.89 percent YoY growth in May 2022 with an increase in domestic sales but de-growth in terms of exportsNew Hero SplendorHero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two wheeler maker has had a successful month of May 2022. Sales volumes increased substantially thanks to improvements in buyer sentiments and increased rural purchase backed by predictions of normal monsoon. Support by way of Government policies with the recent reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel which has resulted in lower cost of fuel, has also brought relief to two wheeler ownersHero MotoCorp sold a total of 4,86,704 units in May 2022. This was a YoY growth of 165.89 percent over 1,83,044 units sold in May 2021. Domestic sales increased 192.34 percent to 4,66,466 units up from 1,59,561 units sold in May 2021 while exports dipped 13.82 percent to 20,238 units in May 2022 from 23,483 units shipped in May 2021.Hero MotoCorp Sales May 2022Growth was seen across both motorcycle and scooter sales. Motorcycle sales increased 153.07 percent YoY to 4,52,246 units, up from 1,78,706 units sold in May 2021. This was a volume growth of 2,73,540 units and a share percentage of 92.92. Scooter sales on the other hand saw a 694.33 percent YoY growth to 34,458 units in May 2022, up from 4,338 units sold in May 2021, a volume growth of 30,120 units and share percentage of 7.08.In May 2022, Hero MotoCorp also introduced the new Splendor+ XTEC commuter bike at Rs. 67,030. It comes in with added style and improved technology along with better comfort and safety features as compared to that seen on the Hero Splendor.Hero MotoCorp Sales May 2022Hero MoM Sales GrowthMonth-on-Month (MoM) sales of Hero MotoCorp also saw significant growth. Sales increased 16.26 percent MoM from 4,18,622 units sold in April 2022 to 4,86,704 units in the past month leading to volume growth of 68,082 units. Growth was seen both in terms of domestic sales and exports.Domestic sales increased 17.06 percent to 466,466 units from 3,98,490 units sold in April 2022. Exports saw a marginal increase of 0.53 percent to 20,238 units from 20,132 units sold in April 2022.Motorcycle sales improved 15.18 percent MoM from 3,92,627 units sold in April 2021 with 59,619 unit volume growth and 93.79 percent share. Scooter sales on the other hand increased 32.56 percent from 25,995 units shipped in April 2022 leading to an 8,463 unit volume growth and 6.21 percent share.Hero MotoCorp Sales May 2022 YTDThe two-wheeler major also announced that its first electric vehicle unveil, which was earlier scheduled to take place in July, has now been pushed ahead to the upcoming festive season in view of supply chain issues and shortage of various components, including semiconductors. More

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      2022 Bajaj Pulsar N160 Launch This Month – New Styling, Specs

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      Pulsar N160 is part of the company’s ongoing initiative to overhaul the entire Pulsar range; focus on style and performance improvementsModified Bajaj Pulsar image for reference. Credit – MotoSaigonCredited with popularizing performance-oriented biking in the country, Pulsar motorcycles continue to be bestsellers in their respective segments. While it is Pulsar 125 that leads in domestic sales, the export markets are dominated by Pulsar 160, 180 and 200. After the biggest Pulsars, F250 and N250, Bajaj is readying the all-new Pulsar N160. Launch is expected in the second half of June.New Pulsar N160 borrows heavily from its larger capacity sibling, N250. Some of the closely matching features include projector LED headlight and sleek eyebrow-shaped LED DRLs. A significant percentage of the body panels closely resemble that of N250. Similarities are also evident in the seat design, trapezoidal rear view mirrors, grab rails, swingarm, tail section and tail light.2022 Bajaj Pulsar N160In terms of its unique features, 2022 Bajaj Pulsar N160 gets an underbelly exhaust. This ensures improved symmetrical aesthetics for the bike. In comparison, both Pulsar N250 and F250 are equipped with a stubby, upswept side exhaust. It appears that Bajaj has not just borrowed from Pulsar N250, but has actually made further improvements that will be available with other Pulsar bikes, starting with N160.Riding ergonomics seems fairly comfortable with the new Pulsar N160. The bike has a scooped-up rider seat, which should allow for improved control and handling. With its sculpted, aerodynamic front cowl and body panels, the bike seems ready for effortless cruising across city streets and highways. As a means of differentiation, the Pulsar N160 could get some new colour options.New Bajaj Pulsar N250Pulsar N160 engine and specsIn line with Bajaj’s plan to update its Pulsar range, N160 is likely to get a brand new engine. It could utilize a similar architecture, as seen with the Pulsar 250. In its current form, Pulsar NS160 is powered by a 160.3 cc motor. It generates 17.2 PS of max power at 9,000 rpm and 14.6 Nm of peak torque at 7,250 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.New Pulsar is likely to deliver hi-torque performance and fuel efficiency could also witness an improvement. Other hardware items like the frame and front and rear suspension are the same as Pulsar 250. Pulsar N160 will continue to be offered with a kick starter, as available with the current model. Braking system has disc brakes at both ends, integrated with single channel ABS.With the updates, new Pulsar N160 could witness a slight bump in prices. The current model is available at a starting price of Rs 1.23 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). New Pulsar N160 will still be among the most affordable in the segment.It will rival TVS Apache RTR 160 4V that offers a comprehensive range of features such as ride modes, glide through technology and roto-petal disc brake with super-moto ABS. It remains to be seen if Pulsar N160 will have some new features that can give it an edge over rivals.Source More

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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350X Launch Planned – New Sporty Variant

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      The upcoming Royal Enfield motorcycle will be launched by the end of this month or by early JulyModified Meteor by Ironwood CustomDo you remember Royal Enfield Thunderbird? Of course, you do. It was one of the most popular cruiser motorcycles in India. Thunderbird was replaced by Meteor 350 which is currently on sale in India. Thunderbird was available in a more sporty looking variant called X. These motorcycles were named Thunderbird 350X and 500X.Even though X variants had the same overall design, they came with a completely different appeal. Both versions of Thunderbird X were more street-oriented. They came with alloy wheels, 19 inch in the front and 18 inch at the rear, wrapped with tubeless tyres; which was a first from Royal Enfield.X variants had a sporty appeal and eye-candy colours. They got short handlebars unlike the tourer-friendly chopper-style handlebars on the standard Thunderbird. They also got a single-piece street-style seat. Even the pillion backrest found on tourer-friendly standard Thunderbird 350 and 500 was removed in 350X and 500X.Royal Enfield Meteor 350XRoyal Enfield is likely to implement a similar strategy with their Meteor 350. If that is the case, Meteor’s cruiser form factor will be transformed into a street-styled motorcycle. With this move, Royal Enfield will offer a youthful variant of Meteor 350.Existing Royal Enfield MeteorNew report claims that 2022 Meteor 350X will have many updates. One of the biggest change is that it will get a smaller 18” alloy wheel in the front, as against 19″ seen in current Meteor. At the rear, it will continue to have the same 17” wheel like regular Meteor.It might get a flatter handlebar which would make the rider lean a little towards the front. These handlebars will make it easier to turn the motorcycle in urban areas. Changes to seat design will also be made, to accommodate the new handlebar / riding style. Also expected on Meteor 350X are youthful colour options appealing to a younger audience.Specs and LaunchRoyal Enfield will launch Meteor 350X with the same engine as seen on current Meteor. This is a 349 cc unit making 20.2 bhp @6100 RPM and 27 Nm @4000 RPM. It is mated to the same 5-speed transmission unit. Meteor 350X will deliver similar fuel efficiency of around 30-40 kmpl. It will get same 300mm rotor at front with a twin-pot caliper and 270mm rotor with a single-piston caliper at rear. Dual-channel ABS may be offered as standard.Weight of Meteor 350X might be slightly lowered due to changes mentioned. But what won’t be lowered is its price. Meteor 350X could cost around Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 more than the base Fireball variant of current Meteor. We expect it to be launched by the end of this month or in early July. This means it will launch before the upcoming Hunter 350, yet another street-friendly motorcycle from RE.Source More

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      Ather Electric Scooter Records Highest Ever Sales – May 2022

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      Ather Energy rides high in May 2022; reports sales at sells 3,787 units – MoM sales stable and greenAther Electric ScooterIndia already has a target for the number of electric two-wheelers it expects to see on the road by the end of the decade. That goal is slowly being realized, one electric scooter at a time. For starters, the electric two-wheeler industry is dominated by e-scooters. Unlike the predominant trend where manufacturers sell motorcycles by the dozen, e2W growth is being fuelled by scooters.And it’s no surprise, most names in the marketplace are new. Ather being one of them. With tech leading the charge, new age EV manufacturers are rapidly modernising the industry. At the same time, early adopters are able to choose from a wide range of products. This is made possible through robust R&D and the competitive nature of the growing industry. For starters, e2W manufacturers are keen on product launches to meet market demand.Ather Electric Scooter Sales May 2022Given market growth, and increased market awareness, Ather Energy has ended May 2022 on a high note. A YoY comparison isn’t possible owing to unavailability of sales figure for May 2021. And that’s not the only limitation. Even if these numbers were available, they wouldn’t make for a meaningful comparison.A year earlier, Covid-19 had a stronger grip, and heightened severity. This led to multiple lockdowns and production slowdowns to ensure personnel safety, and limited people movement. MoM sales has improved marginally. Volume gain stood at 8 units, from 3,779 units in April 2022 to 3,787 units in May 2022.Ather Electric Scooter Sales May 2022Growing electric scooter salesWhere sales are considered, the e2W industry has a new leader. Ola. While Hero Electric held the spot for the longest time, Ola Electric has made an impactful entry. It has curated its own business plans, and is hurrying towards dominance. Ather Energy has in the meantime strengthened its position in the middle order as it continues to report sales growth.In fact, last month Ather outsold TVS once again. TVS iQube sales for May 2022 are reported at 2,637 units. The latter closely competes with Bajaj Chetak EV. It’s easy to see competition is rife even though sales volumes for now are small. This competitive edge is what’s going to help the industry power on.Ather 450X and 450 Plus scootersRavneet S. Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, “Ather delivered 3787 scooters to customers in the month of May’22. We achieved the highest ever monthly sales in May, which reiterates the strong faith that consumers have in our well-engineered, reliable and safe 450X and 450 Plus scooters.With the new round of funding, we are excited to have NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund) onboard along with Hero MotoCorp, who continue to make fresh investments in our business. The fresh round of funding will focus largely on expanding manufacturing facilities, investing in R&D, charging infrastructure, strengthening the supply chain, and growing the retail network.” More

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      TVS Motor Sales May 2022 – Apache, Jupiter, iQube, Raider, Ntorq

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      For May 2022, TVS Motor Company reports MoM sales growth; and decline in total exports owing to a decline in 2W exportsImage – Deepak Rao VlogsTVS Motor Company total sales for May 2022 is reported at 3,02,982 units. If compared to YoY numbers, growth is stupendous. And at the same time adds little value. This is due to low base sales in May 2021 owing to an ongoing period of localised lockdown imposed by the government.In comparison, the quest to keep auto businesses undisturbed has been more successful in 2022. With Covid-19 caseload steady at lower base numbers, businesses are soon moving to pre-Covid levels, and in some instances, performing better than ever before.TVS Motor Sales May 2022A year earlier, Covid-19 severity was high, and impacted auto businesses severely. In May 2021, total sales stood at 1,66,889 units. Volume gain is reported at 1,36,093 units. Total MoM sales improved 2.6 percent, up from 2,95,308 units. Volume gain is reported at 7,674 units.Total two-wheeler sales in May 2021 were reported at 1,54,416 units. For May 2022, that number stands at 2,87,058 units. MoM total 2W sales growth stands at 2.51 percent, up from 2,80,022 units. Volume gain stood at just over 7k units. In the two wheeler segment, top sellers include Jupiter, Apache, Raider, Sport, Star City, Ntorq, Pep+, XL100. Electric scooter iQube also posted impressive numbers.TVS Motor Sales May 2022 vs May 2021 (YoY)Domestic two-wheeler sales are up from 52,084 units in May 2021 to 191,482 units in May 2022. MoM growth stands at 6 percent, up from 1,80,533 units. YoY total motorcycle sales are up from 1,25,188 units in May 2021 to 148,560 units in May 2022. Scooter sales rose from 19,627 units in May 2021 to 100,665 units in May 2022.Total 3W salesAt a time when domestic business was plagued by lockdowns and slowdowns, the export business triumphed. YoY exports continued to gain, up at 1,10,245 units in May from 1,14,674 units in May 2021. Two-wheeler exports last month stood at 95,576 units, down from 1,02,332 units in May 2021 at 6.6 percent decline. Of domestic two-wheeler sales, EV sales volume has improved at 2,637 units of TVS iQube in May 2022. MoM sales almost doubled, up from 1,420 units. Moped sales last month rose to just under 38k units, up from 9,601 units YoY. Moped sales were largely stable.Three-Wheeler sales in May 2022 is up 28 percent at 15,924 units, up from 12,473 units. Of this, domestic 3W sales stood at 1,255 units. 3W exports make up the bulk in volumes at 14,669 units. YoY growth stood at 18.85 percent, up from 12,342 units.TVS Motor Sales May 2022 vs Apr 2022 (MoM)Semiconductors shortageIn the current day, the ongoing semiconductors shortage impacts production and sales of premium two-wheelers. To rectify this, TVS has turned to alternate sources to arrest the shortfall. All efforts are concentrated on improving availability of timely supplies at the earliest.These efforts are paying off, and the company reports some improvement in May 2022. TVS is optimistic that volume revival to normal levels will soon be a reality as the semiconductor supply situation improves. More

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      Royal Enfield SG650 Bobber And Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift Actor

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      The production version of the Royal Enfield SG650 Concept will likely be called Shotgun 650 and is expected to launch in late 2022Royal Enfield 650cc motorcycles getting checked out by Fast And Furious starThe Fast & Furious series has been one of the most successful film franchises in Hollywood. It has fast-paced action that revolves around cars and street racing. There are 8 movies in the franchise already and we can expect at least two more. The movie series features Hollywood A-listers like Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson.Among all other actors in the franchise, Korean – American actor Sung-Ho Kang has one of the most charming roles, Han Lue. We can see the actor featured in almost every movie after 3rd part, The Tokyo Drift. He has a huge fan following on social media platforms and is a very likable actor.Fast & Furious Actor At Royal EnfieldSung Kang recently visited the Royal Enfield R&D facility in England. Royal Enfield took to social media to express how delighted they were to have spent time with a fellow petrolhead. Sung Kang also took to social media to express how inspiring it was for him to meet the artisans and experience the 121-year history that is associated with the brand.In the post shared by Sung Kang, we can see him taking a look at Royal Enfield’s Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. We can also see him conversing and admiring people behind Royal Enfield’s development centre. Sung Kang also went on a tour of Royal Enfield’s rich heritage portrayed by all the vintage and historic motorcycles at the company’s R&D centre.Sung Kang with the Royal Enfield SG650The motorcycle that seems to captivate the Fast & Furious star the most, was Royal Enfield SG650 Concept. Production version of SG650 Concept will be named Shotgun 650 and is expected to be launched soon. We have already seen Shotgun 650 undergoing testing and it looks production-ready. Shotgun 650 will be a bobber-style motorcycle developed around Royal Enfield’s potent parallel-twin 650 cc engine.Royal Enfield SG650 ConceptWe can’t blame the actor for admiring the SG650 Concept as it is a stunning piece of art and design. The concept screams neo-retro in its design language. It was unveiled by Royal Enfield at the 2021 EICMA show. It came with typical bobber styling bits like a single cantilever seat, wide and flat handlebars with bar-end mirrors and a chopped up tail-section.S650 Concept also featured USD forks and dual disc brakes in front which was a first by the company. It was finished in a beautiful silver aluminum finish and teal blue paint scheme with futuristic patterns on the fuel tank and front fenders. The engine bay and exhausts were finished in matte black.The main design highlight is the front cowl which also doubles up as an important cycle part holding the front USD forks. The motorcycle also gets circular headlights and tail-lights amplifying the retro appeal. Royal Enfield SG650 Bobber will be powered by the same parallel-twin 650 cc engine doing duties on Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. This motor makes 47 bhp and 52 Nm and is a significant upgrade over the vibey Royal Enfield engines of the past. We expect the Shotgun 650 to be launched by the end of this year. More

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      Bajaj Auto Sales May 2022 – Pulsar, Avenger, Chetak, Dominar, CT100

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      Bajaj Auto YoY sales remained flat in May 2022 with just a 1 percent increase in total salesImage – MRD VlogsAs has been noted across the automobile industry, Bajaj Auto Limited also continues to face severe shortage of semiconductors. This has had a catastrophic effect both on production and sales. Even as exports dipped, the company has noted increased sales in domestic markets both in terms of two wheeler and commercial vehicles.Bajaj Auto Sales May 2022Bajaj Auto total sales in May 2022 increased by just 1 percent YoY. Total sales which had stood at 2,71,862 units in May 2021 went up to 2,75,868 units in the past month. In the two wheeler segment, sales increased 59 percent to 96,102 units in May 2022, up from 60,342 units sold in May 2021. Exports on the other hand did not perform as well. There was a 15 percent de-growth in exports of two wheelers last month to 1,53,397 units, down from 1,80,212 units sold in May 2021. This took total 2 wheeler sales up 4 percent YoY to 2,49,499 units from 2,40,554 units sold in May 2021.Commercial Vehicle sales on the other hand saw a 16 percent YoY decline to 26,369 units from 31,308 units sold in May 2021. Domestic sales improved 3221 percent to 16,206 units from just 488 units sold in May 2021 while exports dipped 67 percent to 10,163 units from 30,820 units shipped in May 2021. Total two wheeler and CVs in domestic markets saw an 85 percent YoY growth to 1,12,308 units from 60,830 units sold in May 2021. Exports fell 22 percent to 1,63,560 units from 2,11,032 units sold in May 2021.Two wheeler range of Bajaj includes Pulsar, Dominar, Chetak, Avenger, CT, Platina, Boxer (exports). In the two wheeler segment, Bajaj Auto has recently stopped production of the CT100 for domestic market. This was Bajaj Auto’s most affordable product priced around INR 54k (ex-showroom, Delhi).Bajaj Auto Sales May 2022Bajaj Auto YTD Sales and ExportsTaking into account Year-to-Date sales from the period April 2021 to May 2022, two wheeler sales (domestic + exports) of Bajaj Auto Limited dipped 10 percent. Total sales in the April-May 2022 period stood at 5,31,210 units, down 10 percent over 5,88,727 units sold in the same period of the previous year.Two wheeler domestic sales remained flat with a 1 percent growth to 1,89,335 units, up from 1,86,912 units sold in April-May 2021 period. Exports fell 15 percent to 3,41,875 units in April-May 2022 from 4,01,815 units sold in April-May 2021. Domestic sales of CVs improved 200 percent to 25,150 units from 8,389 units sold in April-May 2021 while exports dipped 52 percent from 62,762 units shipped in the April-May 2021 period to 30,282 units in the same period in 2022.This took total two wheeler and CV sales to 2,14,485 units in the April-May 2022 period, up 10 percent over 1,95,301 units sold in April-May 2021. Exports (2W and CV) on the other hand dipped 20 percent to 3,72,157 units in the current period down from 4,64,577 units sold in the April-May 2021 period. Total 2W and CV sales thus dipped down 11 percent to 5,86,642 units from 6,59,878 units sold in April-May 2021.Bajaj Auto Sales May 2022 YTDBajaj Auto has increased prices across range in May 2022 by a maximum of Rs 4,900 across range. This hike in prices is due to a steep increase in raw material costs, making it necessary for the company to pass on a percentage of the same to customers. More