Mumbai, Nov 24: Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto Ltd on Wednesday said it would alter its product portfolio in line with the domestic consumer's preference for motorcycles as against scooters earlier. "The output and sales figures in the Indian two-wheeler market in the first half of this fiscal shows that the consumer choice is rapidly shifting towards motorcycles from scooters," according to the Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj.BAL was constantly monitoring the two-wheeler market in the country and in tune with the recent developments in the segment was taking steps to gradually increase motorcycle output to reflect the new ground realities, he said on the sidelines of a function organised to launch the book `Business Mantras', penned by Gita Piramal.
The scooter market has shrunk considerably with the output declining by 6 per cent and sales going down by 9.4 per cent in the first half of this fiscal compared to the corresponding period last year. However, in the same period the motorcycle segment has reported a robust growth of 21 per cent and 23 per cent in production and sales respectively.
Bajaj categorically stated that the launch of `Sapphire', the new scooter from the BAL stable, in early January would not be delayed due to the Rs 80 crore suit slapped against the company by a supplier for alleged termination of a memorandum of understanding. "We have 1,500 suppliers and the case will not affect us in any way," he added.
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