RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian market has had little experience with Indian motorcycles. Except for the Royal Enfield motorcycles and the Dafra Apache RTR, assembled under TVS’s license, few models have reached the country.
But this should soon change. In October last year, Bajaj announced in India that it plans to expand globally, and this will include Brazil.
In addition to being one of the largest manufacturers in India, the brand is also the largest exporter in the country. About 15% of everything Bajaj sells abroad is bound for Latin American countries such as Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador. But the company’s plans are not limited to selling motorcycles in Brazil, as it should build a plant in Manaus (AM), with the potential to export to other markets in the region.
More than just announcing hypothetical plans, Bajaj has actually taken some actions. The first of them was to confirm the hiring of Waldyr Ferreira as head of operations in Brazil. The executive served as Harley-Davidson Brazil’s director until July last year. Bajaj’s business model in Brazil should be complete. In addition to the plant, it should also include logistics and stocks of localized parts.
Having a new competitor in the Brazilian market, dominated by Honda and Yamaha for years, is always good news. But the most interesting aspect is that Bajaj has a portfolio focused on entry-level models, with mainly low-cylinder motorcycles. The company’s best-selling models in India feature engines ranging from 100 cm³ to 400 cm³. Thus, it could offer more affordable motorcycles to Brazilian consumers.
It is interesting to note that Bajaj not only has some of the most affordable motorcycles in India, it also has the cheapest combustion motorcycle there. The small CT100, a model costing 49,152 rupees, or about R$3,540 in direct conversion. Naturally, it is a simple motorcycle, but when the converted value is compared to the cheapest motorcycle in Brazil, the difference is considerable. The most accessible conventional motorcycle in Brazil among the large manufacturers is the Honda Pop 110i, which costs no less than R$6,980.
Its list of standard equipment is very trim. The speedometer is analog and instrumentation is limited only to panel lights. The wheels are 17-inch alloy, with tube tires. The bike features two drum brakes and pedal start. Electric start is optional. However, it is equipped with items appreciated by Indians, such as an engine and body protector, as well as a chain cover.
Mechanically, the CT100 features a 102 cm³ air-cooled single-cylinder engine, but is now powered by electronic injection. With simple valve command in the head, it delivers only 7.9 hp of power and 0.83 kgfm of torque. The gearbox has four speeds, with downshifts, as in the Honda Biz, for example. Bajaj says that the CT 100’s top speed is 90 km/h. Its design resembles many models that have previously been available in Brazil, such as the Dafra Super 100 and the Sundown Hunter 90.
The Honda CG 160 is the best selling motorcycle in Brazil by a wide margin. But it is not particularly cheap: R$10,020 for the Start version with spoked wheels and front drum brakes. In India, Bajaj also has a cheaper alternative, complete and with a slightly larger engine, the Pulsar 180.
The Pulsar line has several engine options and models, but the 180 is the closest to our CG. In Brazil costs 107,904 rupees, or less than R$8,000. For this amount, it comes with a much more complete list of standard items, including a carved headlight, alloy wheels, LED lights and ABS brakes with discs on both wheels. The engine is a 178.6 cm³ single-cylinder with 17 hp of power and 1.45 kgfm of torque coupled to a 5-speed gearbox.
In addition to conventional motorcycles, Bajaj is also expanding its electric motorcycle line. In March, the company launched the Chetak scooter in India, a model that is priced from R$10,400. It features a 3.8 kW (about 5.5 hp) electric motor and 3 kWh capacity batteries.
With this setup, Bajaj claims that the Chetak has autonomy of up to 95 km, with a top speed of 70 km/h. Among the main items on its list of standard equipment, the Indian electric scooter now features full LED lights, a digital instrument panel, and Bluetooth connectivity.