Showing posts with label LML. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LML. Show all posts
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Bajaj Chetak Nostalgia - Pune Mirror,Pune Mirror
It’s interesting that all this nostalgia is spilling now, a few years after the Chetak was discontinued, simply because Rajiv Bajaj chose to make a big deal about the demise of the uninspired Kristal. It almost seems like the whole brouhaha was calculated to spite his father. No one will really miss the Kristal, but the decision is important on a symbolic level, and it seems strange to absolutely rule out future scooter production. Which makes me even more positive that a retro Chetak is imminent, ha. Then again, LML has that market pretty well covered now. - 2strokebuzz
Finally, the generation gap has caught up with Rahul Bajaj! The two-wheeler giant Bajaj Auto will now stop making scooters, and the old man is not happy with his son and Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj’s decision to exit production of scooters.
It is the end of an era and the demise of a philosophy: that two-wheelers were meant to move from point A to B. Today, it is the age of the fast bikes. And our inhouse expert agrees with the company’s new ideology.
Group chairman and Rajiv’s father, Rahul Bajaj has made his feelings clear about the scooters’ forthcoming demise. “I feel bad, I feel hurt.
I can’t say harm the company and its shareholders by doing something you should not do... But I am still not convinced. He [Rajiv] has tried to explain it to me,” were his exact words.
However, the young MD rebuffed the emotional outburst by saying: “I care less for the solution from emotions, I believe more in the magic of logic.
Brands that are more sharply positioned are brands that are more profitable... It [scooter] is not a really profitable market.”
For an expert’s opinion on this situation, Pune Mirror talked to Adil Jal Darukhanawala, editor of zigwheels. com. He said: “Rajiv Bajaj’s decision to stop production of scooters is a sound businessman’s move.
The type of scooters Bajaj used to make have become a relic of the old times; one hardly sees them on the road anyway.
Motorcycles are the hot wheels of today and the future.” He added, “"Nostalgia is one thing and the hard reality is something else.
Agreed, the company was formed to manufacture scooters. Its first scooter model Chetak was launched in 1972 and remained its flagship model right until the mid-90s.
Bajaj stopped manufacturing Chetak four years ago. The 100-cc gearless Kristal will be phased out by the current fiscal. But all said and done, a company has to focus on the global trends and move with the times.”
“The Pulsar was conceived to offer a much-needed sporty alternative and that did the trick for Bajaj both from a motorcycle point of view as well as a financial stand point,” Darukhanawala said.
He added, “India is the second largest 2-wheeler market with about 7 million bikes being produced annually, with China topping the list with an output of 12 million.
Out of India's 7-million annual output of two-wheelers, 5.5 million comprises motorbikes and the rest of the 1.5 million is made up of scooters, scooterettes and mopeds.
So, it only makes some solid sense to look at the bigger game rather than being a petty hunter. The way the company is structuring its business by having the largest, most robust R&D in the country, says a lot about the direction it’s taking," Darukhanawala signed off.
All that is best summed up in Rajiv Bajaj’s words, “Bharat has changed, Buland has changed, Bajaj has changed.”
Bajaj stopped manufacturing Chetak four years ago. The 100-cc gearless Kristal will be phased out by the current fiscal. But all said and done, a company has to focus on the global trends and move with the times.”
“The Pulsar was conceived to offer a much-needed sporty alternative and that did the trick for Bajaj both from a motorcycle point of view as well as a financial stand point,” Darukhanawala said.
He added, “India is the second largest 2-wheeler market with about 7 million bikes being produced annually, with China topping the list with an output of 12 million.
Out of India's 7-million annual output of two-wheelers, 5.5 million comprises motorbikes and the rest of the 1.5 million is made up of scooters, scooterettes and mopeds.
So, it only makes some solid sense to look at the bigger game rather than being a petty hunter. The way the company is structuring its business by having the largest, most robust R&D in the country, says a lot about the direction it’s taking," Darukhanawala signed off.
All that is best summed up in Rajiv Bajaj’s words, “Bharat has changed, Buland has changed, Bajaj has changed.”
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
LML Revival
Geared scooters are back in business, and first off the line in this revival is LML's NV 4-Stroke which was recently introduced in Delhi and Faridabad.
Rewind twenty years, to a scene on a typical Indian street. The eighties are roaring, and the new liberated mantra for personal mobility is reverse engineered Italian style-icons, known to the world as scooters. In all likelihood, seven out of ten vehicles you would have encountered would have been puttering two-stroke scooters. Of course, the age of Japanese 4-stroke motorcycles rang the death knell for the 2-strokers in India, but their charm and real world practicality has seen them thrive internationally.
LML has been one of the major players in the erstwhile scooter-happy market, and the company now has plans of reviving the trend of convenient geared scooters in the country. The scooter manufacturer has been in business exporting its products offshore, but has recently returned to its roots by launching its first product in India after many years in the form of the LML NV 4-Stroke.
Source - Zigwheels
Thursday, August 13, 2009
LML launches new 150cc LML NV 4-stroke scooter
LML launches new 150cc LML NV 4-stroke scooter
Lohia Motors India Limited, the company whose identity was almost forgotten by Indians although it had some good product to its credit including LML Vespa resurfaced in the domestic market with re-engineered scooters in the scooter segment with new LML NV 150cc.
There is an increasing demand of scooters in the Indian market and LML rightfully wanted to cash in on the demand and consolidate its position yet again in the scooter segment, but this time in collaboration with a Korean company Daelim in select markets of Ghaziabad and Delhi. The scooters from the anvils of LML are known for speed, stability, power and pickup, let us review if this will be the same with the new 150CC LML NV.
Looks wise the new LML 150cc scooter comes with excellent body graphics, cushioned backrest for better ergonomics and a big taillight for attractive appeal. The new handle bar design reflects new style, and there is improved speedometer with utility box. The seat saddle is spacious providing satisfying riding experience.
LML NV 150cc scooter will be available in two models, the base model and the upgraded deluxe variant. The new LML 4-stroke scooter runs on air-cooled single cylinder engine, displacing 150cc and will generate maximum power output of 8bhp@5500 rpm with a three-port technology.
The best part of the new LML 150cc scooter is how the engine produces so much power, making riding experience smooth and also fun filled. The engine of LML NV is comes with electronic ignition system. And, there is a 4-speed gearbox which is a compact unit, and it uses two cables. The clutch system is smooth but the new LML NV 150 cc scooter lacks the auto lubrication system which is almost a norm in today's 4-stroke scooters. The LML NV comes with drum brakes both front and rear and the wheelbase larger at 1235mm provide greater stability to the rider. The fuel tank capacity is about 8 liters and thats huge.
LML claims that both the variants of scooters deliver fuel efficiency of 55km/litre. The base version is expected to be available at ex-showroom price of Rs. 39,897 in Delhi for the base model and the other upgraded variant will be available Rs.40,800-00.
Currently, LML has limited presence in the Indian market, but with its new product launch it is expected to expand its market share in eastern India.
Those who thought that LML is dead, wake up, because the desi scooter maker and India’s largest scooter exporter, is now back with a bang and consumers will have more choice for the geared scooters.
Shared via AddThis
Lohia Motors India Limited, the company whose identity was almost forgotten by Indians although it had some good product to its credit including LML Vespa resurfaced in the domestic market with re-engineered scooters in the scooter segment with new LML NV 150cc.
There is an increasing demand of scooters in the Indian market and LML rightfully wanted to cash in on the demand and consolidate its position yet again in the scooter segment, but this time in collaboration with a Korean company Daelim in select markets of Ghaziabad and Delhi. The scooters from the anvils of LML are known for speed, stability, power and pickup, let us review if this will be the same with the new 150CC LML NV.
Looks wise the new LML 150cc scooter comes with excellent body graphics, cushioned backrest for better ergonomics and a big taillight for attractive appeal. The new handle bar design reflects new style, and there is improved speedometer with utility box. The seat saddle is spacious providing satisfying riding experience.
LML NV 150cc scooter will be available in two models, the base model and the upgraded deluxe variant. The new LML 4-stroke scooter runs on air-cooled single cylinder engine, displacing 150cc and will generate maximum power output of 8bhp@5500 rpm with a three-port technology.
The best part of the new LML 150cc scooter is how the engine produces so much power, making riding experience smooth and also fun filled. The engine of LML NV is comes with electronic ignition system. And, there is a 4-speed gearbox which is a compact unit, and it uses two cables. The clutch system is smooth but the new LML NV 150 cc scooter lacks the auto lubrication system which is almost a norm in today's 4-stroke scooters. The LML NV comes with drum brakes both front and rear and the wheelbase larger at 1235mm provide greater stability to the rider. The fuel tank capacity is about 8 liters and thats huge.
LML claims that both the variants of scooters deliver fuel efficiency of 55km/litre. The base version is expected to be available at ex-showroom price of Rs. 39,897 in Delhi for the base model and the other upgraded variant will be available Rs.40,800-00.
Currently, LML has limited presence in the Indian market, but with its new product launch it is expected to expand its market share in eastern India.
Those who thought that LML is dead, wake up, because the desi scooter maker and India’s largest scooter exporter, is now back with a bang and consumers will have more choice for the geared scooters.
Shared via AddThis
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
NEW 4 Stroke Stella Revealed by 2SB
The New 4 Stroke Stella will still be manual shift, 4 Stroke, and California emissions legal. For all the rest including more photos head over to 2StrokeBuzz.com.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Piaggio to make a come-back with its Iconic Scooters
Scooters, which almost disappeared into the dark alleys of nostalgia, are making a grand comeback. Piaggio Group, which has recently inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in Vietnam, where it will produce 125cc and 150cc Vespa LX scooters, has said that it will also be rolling out scooters in India in due course of time.
Italian auto company Piaggio, manufacturer of the iconic Vespa scooter, is to start production in India as part of plans to expand its operations. Piaggio has roughly 40% of the Indian market share for three wheelers, whereas it lags behind giant Tata Motors (TTM) with a 6% share in four-wheel light commercial vehicles market.
Piaggio Group now operates manufacturing facilities in Italy, Spain, India, China and Vietnam. In India, after calling off its joint venture with the Kanpur-based LML, Piaggio has restricted its operations in the country to light commercial vehicles. However, the Italian group is said to be considering re-launching Vespa scooters in India by 2011-12. The group said it planned to increase its turnover by 20 per cent by 2012.
Piaggio Vehicles Private Ltd. (PVPL)- is headquartered at Pune and has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Baramati, Maharashtra, where three-wheelers are currently being made. Though the company has not announced it officially, industry sources reckon that its proposed scooters would be manufactured in the premises of its existing plant.
Piaggio has already established its numero-uno position in India's 3 wheeler market in cargo as well as passenger segments. Right from the time of its launch in 1999, Piaggio has consistently delivered exceptional standards and commitment to its customers across India. The service orientation of the company has resulted in Piaggio garnering a customer base of over 700,000 satisfied customers across India.
Source - http://www.vicky.in/straightfrmtheheart/piaggio-targets-indian-scooter-market/
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