Bajaj Auto launches Discover 100T, guns for Hero Passion and Honda Dream Yuga

Pune, January 8, 2012: Bajaj Auto has launched the latest member of its Discover family – the 100T – which the company bills as the ‘ultimate 100’. The new motorcycle has been pitched at the upper end of the commuter segment and has been priced at Rs 50,500 (ex-showroom Delhi). The Discover 100 Tourer is squarely targeted at the Hero MotoCorp’s Passion and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India's Dream Yuga, both of which of stellar sellers for their companies.

Powered by Bajaj Auto's patented four-valve DTS-i technology, the 102cc Discover 100 T delivers 10.22 ps of power at 9000rpm and develops torque of 9.2 Nm at 6500rpm. The company claims the newest Discover is 30 percent more powerful than other motorcycles in the 100cc segment and also delivers fuel efficiency of 87 kilometres per litre.

According to K Srinivas (pictured above), president (Motorcycle Business), Bajaj Auto, “the Discover 100T delivers the power of a 125cc with the economy of a 100cc." What makes the bike different from the commuter competition is the added style quotient and features -- the new Discover sports a muscular tank and macho-looking headlamp, along with 10-spoke alloy wheels.

According to Bajaj Auto, the mass market motorcycle segment accounts for around two-thirds of the overall motorcycle market in India. The company says the 550,000 100cc bikes that are sold every month fall into three price sub-segments: A1 (Bajaj’s Platina and the Hero HF: Rs 40,000-43,000); A2 (Hero Splendor, Hero Passion and Bajaj's Discover 100: Rs 44,000-49,000; and A3 (Honda Dream Yuga, Hero Passion Pro: Rs 48,000-54,000). It is this A3 sub-segment that the new Discover T is targeting and Bajaj Auto is aiming at sales of 40,000 to 45,000 units per month.

Speaking at the product launch in Pune yesterday, managing director Rajiv Bajaj said: "We have more than a 40 percent market share in the executive and the premium motorcycle segments, so there is no reason why our share in the mass market segment should remain at 20 percent. We believe we can improve this to at least 30 percent over the next couple of years."

Bajaj also revealed that the company plans to add another model to the Discover family later this year. At present, the Discover family including the latest 100T comprises five models (94.3cc DTS-Si/102cc 100T/124.6cc DTS-i/ 124.5cc 125ST/144.8cc 150 DTS-i).