Abstract

The case discusses the business strategy of Bajaj Auto Limited (Bajaj Auto), a leading Indian manufacturer of two wheelers. Bajaj Auto, which sold two wheelers in India since 1945, was the market leader in the Indian two wheeler industry till late 1990s. However, the company failed to visualize the structural changes happening in the Indian two wheeler industry since the early 1990s. After the Indian economy was liberalized in 1991, foreign players entered the Indian two wheeler industry with their innovative products and sophisticated technology. In spite of rising competition, Bajaj Auto neither upgraded its scooter models, nor focused on the rapidly growing motorcycle segment. In late 2001, Bajaj Auto initiated a transformation process in an effort to transform its image from being a scooter manufacturer to a motorcycle company. At the same time, the company continued its efforts to revive the geared scooter market. The company continued to invest time and resources in the geared scooter segment even till the early 2000s when the sales of geared scooters were negligible as compared to the gearless scooters. Bajaj Auto also failed to introduce innovative products in the rapidly growing gearless scooter market. The company lost its leadership status in the scooters segment to Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India (HMSI). The case examines how Bajaj Auto became a follower both in the scooter and motorcycle segment from being the market leader in the Indian two wheeler industry.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the structural changes happening in the Indian two wheeler industry in the 1990s and early 2000s and its implications.
• Examine the growth strategy of Bajaj Auto over the decades.
• Study the transformation process initiated by Bajaj Auto and its impact.
• Analyze the shortcomings in the business strategy of Bajaj Auto.

Keywords

Bajaj Auto Limited, Indian Two wheeler industry, Market leader, Market Follower, Competitive Strategies, Liberalization of Indian economy, Hero Honda Motors Limited, Indian Motorcycles Industry, Geared scooters Segment, Gearless scooter Segment, Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India, Indian Rural Two Wheeler Market, Collaboration, Joint Ventures, Bajaj Chetak, Bajaj Super, Bajaj Caliber, Pulsar, TVS Motor Company, 100 CC motor cycles, Entry segment, Executive segment, Premium segment, Structural Changes in the Industry, Consumer Behavior, Demographics