Bajaj Renault to roll out low-cost car by 2012
May 5th, 2010 - 5:33 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 5 (IANS) Bajaj Auto Wednesday promised a competitor to the Tata Nano by 2012 with a similar price tag of around $2,500 but better fuel efficiency in collaboration with global auto giant Renault Nissan.
“If people who ride two-wheelers have to move up to a four-wheeler, what is most important is that the monthly cost of ownership must be affordable. This is rooted in three parameters — the price, the mileage and the maintenance,” managing director Rajiv Bajaj told reporters here, unveiling the company’s new range of three-wheeled passenger vehicles.
Asked if the price of the car will be around $2,500, as mentioned by Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn, he replied in the affirmative.
“This four-wheeler we develop must deliver at least 30 km per litre, beacuse our experience with motorcycles has taught us that whether its power or mileage, unless one gets a fifty percent improvement it is not considered a improvement at all.”
“Our intention with the car is to make a path-breaking performance and that’s why we took the difficult figure of 17-18 km per litre associated with today’s small cars and said that this needs to go up at least 50 percent to 30 km a litre.”
The car was orginally scheduled to hit the roads this year, but the company postponed it to 2012 to conjure up a version that can be low on cost of ownership, fuel efficient and priced similarly to the Nano, which is currently available in a price range of Rs.1.23 lakh-Rs.1.72 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for three variants.
The Bajaj Auto unveiled its new range of passenger three-wheelers, RE 205D and RE 205M. The RE 205D will be available in two fuel variants CNG (compressed natural gas) and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and will be prices at Rs.1,27,300 (ex-showroom Delhi).
The RE 205M at a price of Rs.1,36,840 (ex-showroom Delhi) will also be available in CNG and LPG variants.
- Bajaj Auto unveils low-cost four-wheeler (Lead) (With image) - Jan 03, 2012
- Bajaj Auto unveils ultra low cost vehicle - Jan 03, 2012
- Hyundai launches LPG variant of hatchback i10 - Nov 22, 2011
- Nissan launches diesel variant of mid-size sedan Sunny - Dec 12, 2011
- New variant of Hyundai's Santa Fe SUV launched - Sep 26, 2011
- Renault raises compact car Pulse price - Feb 23, 2012
- Tata Motors launches Indigo e-CS VX compact sedan - Sep 05, 2011
- Maruti Suzuki unveils new Swift DZire - Feb 01, 2012
- Tata Motors tweaks Nano, claims improved mileage - Nov 21, 2011
- Mahindra receives more than 5,000 bookings for XUV5OO - Oct 07, 2011
- Honda launches new variant of City sedan - Dec 14, 2011
- Mahindra to re-open XUV bookings in January - Dec 03, 2011
- Mahindra launches premium sports utility vehicle XUV500 - Sep 29, 2011
- Ford launches two new variants of Fiesta sedan - Jul 14, 2011
- New versions of Tata's Vista hatchback launched - Aug 23, 2011
Tags: bajaj auto, better fuel efficiency, compressed natural gas, cost of ownership, fifty percent, four wheeler, global auto, liquefied petroleum gas, litre, managing director, mileage, nano, New Delhi, passenger vehicles, price tag, rajiv bajaj, renault nissan, rs 1, small cars, two wheelers