TVS Motors to Spring Back Soon with Fresh Models

What do you do when it is all competition around you? Other than fighting the competitors strongly, you would search for new methods to push them back. If you look at the two wheeler market of India, it is exactly the same scene. There are many fighting for the top spot, with the slow racers being pushed out of the game completely. The formula of “slow and steady” seems to be fading out, what the need of this segment is definitely a steady but also a fast runner. The slow ones phase out of the minds of the consumers pretty quick, thus being totally out of the competition. Honda, Bajaj and Hero MotoCorp are definitely the top contenders, who seem to be in no mood to give even a small space to any other company. However, one competitor we find struggling hard to reach a satisfying level is TVS Motors, though the movement seems slow, and definitely steady. With its new and smarter strategies, the manufacturer is gradually snaking up the ladder.

Recently came a smart and an intelligent move from TVS Motors, of having a hand in hand movement with BMW Motorrad, thus coming up with new technologies for its bikes and thus advancing with a new direction when we talk of bike components. The understanding stands mutual between both the auto manufacturing giants. After a market-need study which clearly predicts of a higher demand of fuel efficient bikes, TVS Motors has also now decided to focus on such bikes with latest technologies. And to reach the level, TVS is also rumored to be working with Ricardo and AVL too while developing the new engines as per the new technologies. TVS is pretty much getting international alliances now!

And TVS does not want a stopping right at better technologies, but also increase and better its current production and sales reports, already having promised a total sum of Rs. 400 crore for the cause. TVS Motors has already reportedly started working on a few new concepts from the very scratch; concepts such that the company might be seen booming in the near future. We just hope that these do not remain concepts only, but come out as true and happening. These two concepts would absorb a few of the latest technologies, and are expected to contribute a lot towards a healthier environment.

TVS Motors are rumored to be launching a total of six new bikes (might be scooters as well) in the coming years. With the quarter litre segment gaining a boom in the bike segment, quite a many launches will be seen from TVS. The bikes that are expected in the quarter litre segment will be launched after much learning from BMW Motorrad, after the two will have merged in an alliance. Launching itself in this segment will give quite a high bounce to this two wheel manufacturer; though, clearly enough, these launches are not expected anytime before the year 2014 or 2015. Confirming these rumors, Mr. Vinay Hame, the President, NPI, with TVS Motors, says, “Currently we produce only up to 180 cc and below; we will be entering the bigger bikes segment. There is a trend of moving towards bigger bikes; while the numbers are small, the growth is quite high.” As uptil now, the highest displacement bike that the company offers in India is Apache RTR 180, the first Indian motorcycle in India with anti lock braking system (ABS).

However, the company is still maintaining its silence about the specifications and configurations of the engine, expectations are that there would be one with the specifications of one of the current bikes, while the other might as well cross 200 cc or 250 cc. Coming of the new age, these bikes will also have a check on pollution. A control on Green house emissions would check the pollution by around 20 percent; not just contributing to the environment, it will also help the bikes in fuel efficiency too. Another new technology that TVS two wheelers would have is Continuous Auto Transmission, a technology that would make TVS two wheelers ideal for rides amid the city traffic. Bikes with this technology are rumored to be on test rides this September. TVS has pretty high hopes from this new technology that the company is bringing in the new launches.

What could be a surprise is Qube, a scooter, hybrid at that, which the company showcased during the Auto Expo that was held in New Delhi early this year. The corner received quite a many footfalls from the people prying on this hybrid two wheeler. TVS Motors is also planning to roll on the production of this two-wheeler also, which would essentially be a premium segment ride.
The financial year of 2012 gave a loss of around 14 percent to TVS Motors. In short, to gain back on the lost out shares and profits, the company has planned for at least two bike launches and one scooter. Other than these launches, the way the company is gradually picking up speed, no doubt, the company would soon be a strong contender in the number game among the two wheel manufacturers in India.