BSA Motors, part of Tube Investments of India Ltd of the
Murugappa Group, is looking at expanding product
portfolios in its two- wheeler business. In addition to
the recent launch of five electric bikes, the company is
mulling options to make bikes that run on “few
combination of energy sources”.
The General Manager of BSA Motors, Mr K.B. Srinivasan,
told media that since the automotive industry is moving
towards alternative fuel options, TI set up a separate
division, BSA Motors, for electric bikes. We are
studying possibilities of using a combination of
alternative fuels to expand product portfolio, he said,
adding that it is in talks with a few companies to
collaborate on two-wheeler technologies.
BSA Motors has a Capacity to make about 100 units a day
and hopes to utilise its full capacity in a couple of
months. The company has set a target o selling 10,000
units before March 2009 and by December 2009 it would
sell 50,000 units, he said.
The company recently launched five models of electric
bikes with motors in the range of 250 to 800 watts. The
market for electric bikes is estimated at Rs 450 crore
and is expected to double next year primarily due to the
increase in oil prices.
In order to capita use on the emerging opportunity, the
company is gearing up its retail initiatives. BSA Motors
has five retail outlets now and has signed up for 43
dealerships, which are in different stages of
implementation.
Though the company decided to venture into other regions
after a six to nine-month presence in the southern
market, it would start selling in Delhi and Chandigarh
from January, he said.
The company would also look at exporting the electric
bikes as it received enquiries from SAARC and West Asian
countries. However, “we have to work on Europe and South
America”, and the orders would mature next year, he
said.
At present, the vehicles manufactured by the company
have a 65 per cent import content and the company has
set a target to reduce it to less than 20 per cent in
two years, he said.
