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RESEARCH OBJECTIVESTo study the position of 4-strokes bikes in India To forecast the consumers requirements and to study the consumers preference by collecting the data through questionnaire To determine the consumers buying attitudes towards the 4-strokes bikes To determine the satisfaction level of consumer to the product features and various aspects to the 4-strokes bikes To determine the usage of the product To trace the customer profile LITERATURE REVIEW LITERATURE REVIEW Motorcycles are the most expensive of all two-wheelers. They are more powerful than scooters and mopeds, have the highest load carrying capacity (which is essential for rural areas), are fuel-efficient, have better road grip, and are the most expensive. Besides, motorcycles are viewed as “trendy” in the urban areas as compared with scooters and mopeds. Motorcycle production in India began in 1952, when Enfield India Limited commenced manufacture at its plant in Tamil Nadu. It was the only motorcycle producer in the country until the early 1960s when Ideal Jawa (India) Private Limited and Escorts Limited entered the market. By 1970-71, production of motorcycles had reached 39,000 units per annum. The fortunes of the motorcycle industry changed after the announcement of the liberal licensing policy in 1982 whereby foreign collaboration was allowed. In 1982, the Government allowed foreign players to enter the industry through joint ventures. Within four years, the TVS Group tied up with Suzuki, the Hero Group with Honda, the Escorts Group with Yamaha, and Bajaj Auto Limited (Bajaj Auto) with Kawasaki. TVS Suzuki introduced Ind-Suzuki in 1984, Hero Honda Motors Limited (HHML) launched CD100 in 1985, and both Escorts and Bajaj Auto launched their models in 1986-87. These models catered for the upwardly mobile, middle-to-upper income group consumers who preferred a stylish, powerful vehicle that could be used as an urban personal transportation vehicle. The principal brands that competed in the 1980s were the HHML CD100 (a four-stroke 100cc), the Ind-Suzuki AX100 (from TVS, two-stroke, 100cc) and the Escorts- Yamaha RX100 (two-stroke, 100cc). While the CD100 was positioned primarily on the efficiency plank, giving riders an unprecedented mileage of 80 kms per litre (kmpl), the RX100 became popular with young buyers because of its high power. The AX100 took the middle path, balancing power with reasonable fuel efficiency. To reinforce its image of being a maker of powerful motorcycles, Escorts launched the 350cc twin-carb, twin-cylinder Yamaha RD350, a vehicle that soon gained cult status. It offered 36bhp, but was plagued by problems—very few mechanics could tune the engine and the average fuel consumption was as low as 15 kmpl. Subsequently, the product had to be discontinued. The launch of the 100cc motorcycles was path breaking, as till then the existing big models like the Yezdi, Rajdoot and Bullet could not compete with scooters. A significant development in the motorcycle industry during the late 1990s was the shift from two-stroke to four-stroke technology. The attraction of the four-stroke technology was earlier limited to fuel efficiency, while two-stroke held its own by offering better performance and easier maintenance. But, following the enforcement of India 2000 emission norms beginning April 1, 2000, the less polluting four-stroke has become the preferred technology. The two-stroke technology can also meet the existing environment norms, but only when supplemented by catalytic converters—an option that is both costly and shortsighted. The high temperature of the exhaust, combustion irregularities, the problem of lubricating oil contamination with metallic additives, and finally, fuel adulteration can poison the catalyst and render it completely ineffective. Further, the use of catalytic converter affects the initial pick-up of two-stroke engines, which is one of their main attractions. Given these shortcomings, most motorcycle manufacturers have offered four-stroke vehicles. While the four-stroke motorcycle segment is the fastest growing, it is also highly competitive. Competition has intensified in this segment since CY2001 when players introduced new products at a relatively fast pace. Also, new entrants have entered the market by introducing their products at lower price points, while the existing players have announced price cuts. This has led to price competition in the domestic market. At the lower end of the segment, Bajaj Auto has its Boxer range of motorcycles and Byk; HHML has Dawn as well as CD Dawn and KEL Boss. Above this segment, there are strong brands such as Victor (TVS), Passion and Splendor (HHML), Caliber 115 and Aspire (Bajaj Auto), Freedom, Adreno and Energy (LML), and Crux R (Yamaha). Through its CBZ model, HHML had tapped the premium segment of the market in 1999. Since then, however, quite a few models such as Pulsar 180 by Bajaj Auto and Fiero by TVS have been launched in this segment. Royal Enfield is the market leader in the lifestyle segment. This segment has also attracted new model launches such as Eliminator by Bajaj Auto, Aquila by KEL and Karizma by HHML. NEED FOR FOUR-STROKES BIKES Growth of Bikes Significant growth has been witnessed in the motor cycle segment and the company is fully aware of the need to enter in this segment for maintaining growth and optimizing product mix the growth in motor cycle is attributed largely to the opening up the rural markets and also to its wider acceptance in the youth market. It is growing at any average rates of 20% over the last three years. Another high legal is that the motorcycle sales have surpassed the scooter sales for the first time in 1998-1999 until then motorcycle was always trailing behind. The two-wheeler industry has been rather slow in taking advantages of the board bandings introduced in Rajeev Gandhi time way back in 1994. Even today, there are manufactures such as Escort, Hero Honda, Bajaj, Yamaha and LML, which later to only a single segment like motorcycle or scooter. Any variation of demand in a particular segment hits them hands it is therefore a product policy to have presence in each segment.
SOURCE: Survey of Indian industries in Jan. 2005 Emission Norms The years 2004 emission norms are more stringent than stringent norms as may be seen from table:
The industry need to adopt suitable technology so that it can conveniently meet these horns in time since the production largely of two stroke engines figment of catalytic converter will become necessary. But it will lead some in case in prices. The life of these converter is limited to 25/30 thousand hence consumer will prefer something durable and longer lasting. Some manufacture is therefore planning to switch over to stroke technology to comply with the emission norms. It has an additional advantage of more complete combustion of hydrocarbons in petrol, which gives higher mileage and better fuel economy. The 4 strokes bike are currently giving of fuel 70 to 80 km/hr. this will important from consumers point of view because of high price level of petrol in India. It is therefore not surprising that every major player is trying to get into the motor cycle market to have a piece of cake. Amazing……… but true! Just when the market of scooter is shrinking in India residents London seem to be switching to scooter. The number of scooter on Britons road rise 40 %over the part 12 months. As roads get alleged with traffic and average speed of traffic is London has dropped to 19.2 km/hr more and more people are buying scooter to get around traffic shares. Motorcycle association has released figures acknowledging the new popularity of 4-strokes bikes. RESEARCH METHODOLOGYRESEARCH METHODOLOGY Meaning of Research Research is a common parlance refers to a search for knowledge. One can also define research as a scientific and systematic search for pertient information on a specific topic. In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation. The Advance Learner’s Dictionary of current English lays down the meaning of research as “A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge.” Redman and Mory defines research as a ”Systematized efforts to gain new knowledge.” Some people consider research as a movement, a movement to from the known to unknown. It is actually a voyage of discovery. We possess the vital instinct of inquisitiveness for, when the unknown confronts us, we wonder and our Inquisitiveness make us probe and attain full and fuller understanding of the unknown. Directory: wp-content -> uploads -> 2013 2013 -> International post doctoral research fellowship programme final report title of the research 2013 -> Seals Family History 1565 to 2004 2013 -> Rao bulletin 15 July 2013 html edition this bulletin contains the following articles 2013 -> R institute of technology school of foreign languages 2013 -> Provisional Programme – subject to change thursday 10th april 2013 -> June, 2013 National hiv testing Day Month Men’s Health Week Hurricane Safety Month 2013 -> In memory of the residents of the Parish Chesham Bois that served their country during wwii 2013 -> Federal contract awards in georgia april 2013 Download 478.03 Kb. Share with your friends:
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