Archive for November, 2002
Kawasaki To Source Small Bikes From Bajaj Auto
Kawasaki to source small bikes from Bajaj Auto
Our Bureau
NEW DELHI, Nov. 26
BAJAJ Auto Ltd (BAL) is likely to serve as a sourcing hub for “smaller” bikes for its Japanese collaborator, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.
According to Mr Madhur Bajaj, Vice-Chairman, Bajaj Auto Ltd, “Kawasaki, which has a presence in the higher capacity motorcycles, would source bikes of capacity below 200 cc from India. The bikes are being produced at our Aurangabad plant and we should be able to begin exports in six months”.
The bikes will be exported to all the major global markets. This arrangement “will offer a cost advantage to Kawasaki” as it is cheaper to produce these bikes in India.
It has not, however, yet been finalised whether the bikes will be exported solely under the Kawasaki brand name or will be co-branded as Bajaj Kawasaki.
Says Mr Bajaj, “In some markets, we may sell only under the Bajaj Kawasaki brand name, while in others it may only be under Kawasaki”.
In the coming months, Bajaj Auto will also launch two to four new bikes developed in conjunction with Kawasaki in the Indian market. “These bikes will be addressing the middle segment, as we already have a strong position in the entry-level and premium segment,” Mr Bajaj said.
In an effort to boost growth within the country, BAL is focusing on giving a thrust to exports of both three-wheelers as well as two-wheelers. The company has recently tied up with a Brazilian company to set up an assembly line in Brazil (for two-wheelers and three-wheelers) and may be looking at doing the same in some South-East Asian countries.
“We are looking at the markets in Vietnam and Indonesia,” Mr Bajaj said.
Meanwhile, the company’s focus on cost-cutting is expected to continue. “We have been able to control costs, primarily by indigenising components, implementing TPM at our plants, cutting workforce as well as reducing the vendor base (which has come down from 1,000 to about 250),” says Mr Bajaj.
Hindu On Net
Zarith, Faizal Join Single-Seater’S Elite In Macau GP
KUALA LUMPUR Nov 15 - Malaysia’s Zarith Alfian Zainal and Faizal Hakimi Jaafar of Team Pan Global EZI Malaysia will be among the single-seater’s elite group of Formula One aspirants to compete at this weekend’s Macau Grand Prix.
The two, fresh from completing the 2002 Asian Formula 2000 Series, are among the handful of privileged drivers from around the world to be invited to compete in the Invitational AF2000 Race at the annual historical grand prix.
Regarded as Asia’s Monaco GP due to the nature of the grand prix being held on a tight and unforgiving street circuit, the event has attracted a host of overseas talents who include former AF2000 champion India’s Karun Chandouk.
The Macau GP has also produced graduates in the likes of Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard, Eddie Irvine, Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher who have all gone on to successful careers in F1.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in Macau and it is every single-seater driver’s dream to win there,” said Zarith who, with three podium finishes in his first full season in the AF2000 Series, was also voted rookie of the year.
“The circuit itself is not one of the most forgiving to learn and considering that we will be driving against some of the top seeded single-seater drivers from around the world, you can imagine just how difficult a weekend we will be up against,” he said in a statement here today.
Faizal Hakimi, who is also Pan Global EZI Malaysia’s team manager, said the Macau GP would serve as a yardstick to determine just how competitive the Malaysian drivers are.
“It’s going to be a tough event, no doubt, especially with the calibre of the competition on the grid. Nevertheless, we are not going with the arrogance of trying to win the event on our first time out.
“The circuit alone will be difficult to learn over a brief weekend, what more in trying to tackle the competition.
“Not that we don’t have any intentions of winning - we will certainly try to - but this will be a learning event for us and hopefully, by the end of the weekend, we should be able to know where we stand and how much we need to do to improve,” he added.
Struggling throughout the season with a tight budget, the two drivers received an 11th hour boost to race this weekend.
“Let’s just say that we are grateful and fortunate enough to have been able to make it to the event as a result of some last-minute sponsorship,” Faizal said.
Utusan Malaysia