Bajaj Auto will discontinue the Boxer BM 150 from the domestic market due to a slump in demand. Called the ‘Bharat Bike’, the BM 150 was launched a year ago for Rs 43,000 making it the cheapest 150cc motorcycle in the country.
The Indian two-wheeler major hoped that the rugged simplicity and high output combined with its many carrying hooks and large rear tray would make the bike a winner in the rural market. However, it failed to raise enthusiasm among the rural buyers and could not replicate the success of the Hero Honda Splendor that Bajaj had hoped for. Some reports also suggest that the bike did not take off successfully due to it not being able to offer good fuel efficiency compared to its smaller engined siblings.
Speaking on the discontinuation, K Srinivas, president - motorcycle business, Bajaj Auto, said “We produced 8,000 units of the Boxer 150 last month and all of it was for the export market. We are discontinuing the model in the domestic market.” Bajaj had previously used the Boxer moniker on a 100cc motorcycle which sold in the second half of the 1990s.
