TVS plans to relaunch Max motorbike in July

The avatar of the two-stroke bike may be priced below Rs 40,000 The company aims to sell two million bikes and Bloomberg three-wheelers this financial year INDIA’S third largest two wheeler maker TVS Motor is looking to relaunch the Max motorcycle as a fourstroke 100 cc bike named Max 4R in July this year, a source with direct knowledge of the development said.

TVS had discontinued the Max 100 in 2005 as its two-stroke engine was not compliant with the then implemented Bharat Stage II emission norms. The Max range constituted about 90 per cent of the company’s sales in the earlier part of the decade.

“It could be launched.But I cannot give you further details,” company spokesman Adrian Dass said.

TVS is likely to see a big chunk of sales coming from its entry-level motorcycles.The company aims to sell two million twoand threewheelers this financial year.

The entry-level motorcycle segment currently dominated by the likes of Hero Honda's CD Dawn and Bajaj Auto's Platina. The segment forms 76 per cent of all motorcycle sales.

About 7.34 million motorcycles were sold in 2009-10, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Hero Honda has a market share of close to 75 per cent of the entry-level motorcycle pie.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India at this year’s Auto Expo announced its foray into the entry-level bike segment with the 110 cc CB Twister that costs about Rs 42,000. India Yamaha Motor launched the 110 cc YBR bike last month priced at Rs 41,370.

The TVS Max 4R is expected to be priced below Rs 40,000. TVS already sells the Star, Sport and the recently introduced autoclutch Jive in the entrylevel motorcycles segment.