It’s official now. Bajaj is going to launch the 125cc KTMs designed and developed here in India in the fiscal year 2011-12. Bajaj has been jointly developing the 125cc machines with KTM which were first previewed at the EICMA show. Bajaj 2-wheelers CEO S. Sridhar has gone on the record to declare the same. Talking with reporters, he said “The product…will first be launched in Europe and then in India, sometime during the next financial year.” The bike will be assembled at the company’s plant in Chakan, Pune, it will be marketed under the KTM brand and would be priced at more than 100,000 rupees ($2,096), Sridhar said.
The new bike will be placed in the premium segment with a host of firsts for the segment like liquid cooling, dual discs, a monoshock suspension and an impressive power output of 15bhp for a 125. While the product will be meant primarily for the European market, the bike is expected to carve a small niche for itself by appealing to those with the money and giving precedence to looks and exclusivity over money.
The bike won’t make a great impact in the Indian market as regards volumes, but will work wonders in uplifting the brand image of Bajaj as a maker of world-class bikes, and will surely add some zing to the otherwise bland Indian bike market.