Bajaj to launch small car with 30 kmpl mileage

Bajaj Auto, India's leading two and three wheeler maker, said on Tuesday that it is aiming for a fuel economy of 30 kmpl for its upcoming ultra low cost car to which it is developing with Renault-Nissan alliance. The only major competitor to this car will be the small sensation Tata Nano which, is available in the price range of Rs 1.23 lakh to Rs 1.72 lakh.

The fuel economy of 30 kmpl will certainly help this car to attract a vast middle class population, as in India, the buyers are more mileage-conscious and this the reason why major car makers are concentrating on launching their small cars with high fuel efficient engines, like Maruti Alto, Maruti A-Star, Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Beat. On an average the existing small cars in India manage to produce fuel economy of 15-18 km/lt.

According to Rajiv Bajaj, Bajaj Auto Managing Director, the company has focusing on developing a car, that the monthly cost of ownership is low enough to motivate two- wheeler buyers to upgrade into a car. company's aim is to deliver a mileage of 30 kmpl. The company is taking a lot of leanings from its experience of motorcycle business, to come up with a product that would impress buyers, he added.

Further elaborating the its mileage strategy, Mr Bajaj said that, on company's experience with motorcycles is that unless there is 50 per cent increase (in mileage), it is not considered good by customers. Bajaj's intention is to do a path breaking job with that kind of fuel economy.