TVS Motor Company is gearing up to launch the country’s first motorcycle with automatic clutch by the end of this calendar year. This motorcycle will spare the rider of constantly having to engage the clutch to shift gears, which would be a welcome relief in choked traffic conditions.
Only the gears need to be changed and there would not be any compromise on pickup or speed so that “thrill and joy of biking are intact,” sources in the know said. When asked about the new motorcycle, TVS Motor declined to comment, stating that any announcement relating to new product launches would be made at an appropriate time.
However, insiders say that the company has been working over the last 18 months on this motorcycle. Experts say that the key will lie in mileage and pricing. On both counts, the company is believed to have done its homework. They say that the motorcycle could create the same kind of impact as gearless scooters did when they hit the Indian roads over two decades ago.
The new motorcycle will be positioned in the executive segment, which accounts for a lion’s share of overall sales. Sources say this motorcycle may attract women riders too, as it will be easier to operate, especially on crowded roads.
“Gearless scooters have emerged the best mode of transport for women over the years and some of them may well opt for a motorcycle which assures equally comfortable riding,” they add. Women have emerged an important buyer segment be it two-wheelers or cars. Companies have been quick to acknowledge this and have ensured that their ad campaigns do not focus on men alone handling their machines.
TVS Motor is also readying a new scooter which would be more powerful than the existing 80cc Scooty. It is expected to be launched in the coming months.
Source: Business Standard
