Hamara Bajaj

Some people may call it natural progression or evolution that the company which created the category in the country decides to stop producing scooters, and focus it's energies on motor bikes.

In fact in the pre-lib days it use to as part and parcel of the middle class house hold, even use to be integral part of the dowry ...and I am used to quoting it as an example of how long one had to wait to get a scooter versus the off-the shelf purchase in as many colours as you want today (99 for a scooty!!!!). But then when I read the news in the morning that Bajaj is exiting the scooters business, it brought a sense of nostalgia and sadness that after a few years we may not it plying on Indian roads ...

Bajaj says it wants to focus on making motorcycles, and maybe the decision was always around the corner after it stopped the production of Chetak a couple of years back , which was the largest selling scooter in the world at one point in time. But recently Mahindra and Mahindra made an entry into the category, all time rival Hero is also saying it is unable to keep up with the demand for its scooter brand 'Pleasure', sale of Honda 'Activa' has always been good, and TVS Motors is planning to add 110 cc Wego to its range.

With so much of activity in the category why is it that Bajaj wanting to stop making scooters, obviously it cannot keep making the same old scooter, but to leave a category??? The company says it wants to become the world's largest bike manufacturer and scooters limit it's focus?? somehow I am not convinced that it is the right decision, looking at the strong association of scooters and Bajaj.

Last few years have seen many strong brands in India getting lost , ( Deccan, Satyam..) maybe we will add it to the list. I look forward to comments from readers if they agree with me or not ...