New Apache RTR 160 Variant lands in Hyderabad, TVS wins quality award and more news about focus on the Executive Segment..
"TVS launches Apache RTR 160 in Hyderabad"
Yes, that was the Title of an article from "The Hindu", dated March 23.. Initially I was puzzled.. The Apache RTR 160 has been on sale throughout India since last year. How come it is again launched in Hyderabad Now..??
Is it a new variant..?? An Upgrade..??
The following has been taken from the same article:
"The company has provided a visually larger size presence without the weight of the bike being altered."
Has TVS increased the size of the Apache RTR 160..?? I was still confused.. Or was it about the launch of the Fuel Injected Apache RTR 160 "EFi"..??
More from the article..
"The 2008 Apache RTR 160 comes with "all new air scoops that help in quicker engine cooling" and features data logging as in race bikes. These include 0-60 lap time and top speed indicators."
There were no photos along with the story.. so now I was all the more confused.
But then I came across the following information and Picture posted in XBHP.COM (God bless xbhp and the guy who uploaded the Pics).
So it seems that the New Apache RTR 160 is just a cosmetic upgrade compared to its earlier model. New features seem to be the Tank Scoops, Exposed Chain and the digital speedo which captures data such as top speed.
"Air scoops that help in quicker engine cooling".. Yeah right..!! Make them a little bigger.. like wings, and watch it fly..!!
I am sure that the TVS guys have been misquoted here by some over enthusiastic journalist.
Anyway, I called up the TVS dealers here in Delhi and they said that this new variant hasn't arrived here (in Delhi) yet and would take around 15 days to arrive.
TVS Bags TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) excellence award
This was reported by The Economic Times.. .
According to the news report, TVS has been given the "Total Productive Maintenance Excellence Award" by the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance. It essentially means that TVS has been awarded for maintaining quality practices.
Its noteworthy that earlier TVS Motors had also won the prestigious "Deming Award".
I agree that quality of products from TVS isn't far behind from the Japanese brands. Even my mechanic friend from Bangalore thinks so.. Kudos TVS Motors..!!
[To know more about TPM: Click here..]
TVS Motors will heavily focus on the executive (Rs. 40,000) segment
In a recent interview to CNBC-TV18, TVS CMD, Venu Srinivasan has stated clearly that "the Focus of TVS Motors would be in the Rs. 40,000 category rather than in the Rs. 60,000 category".
Throughout the interview Mr. Srinivasan clearly indicated that TVS will be pushing the new 125 cc Flame in an attempt to arrest its slide in sales (Just as I had concluded after the Auto Expo).
Just look at the two motorcycle sales graphs below (Courtesy Rearset)..
75cc - less than 125 cc segment is domonated by Hero Honda
125 cc and above segment is dominated by Bajaj Auto
So where is TVS Motors..??
According to Mr. Srinivasan, the Executive segment (where the Flame is currently positioned) accounts for around 50% of motorcycle sales in India. And till now TVS did not have any presence in that segment. Therefore it makes good business sense to concentrate on this segment with the recently launched 125 cc Flame.
But what about the plans for a Bigger Engined Apache RTR..??
In the interview, Mr. Srinivasan clearly says that "Apache or a little more than Apache is where we would stop.." He also says that he sees the "200 cc or 250 cc" as the limit right now.
He also categorically stated that "TVS would be focusing on Commuters".
source : 2wheelsindia.com
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