The manufacturer of Bajaj Platina 110 ABS, one of India’s popular motorcycles, has unfortunately been discontinued due to the fact that it fails to compete in the market. This is quite ironic given that it was the first model in its segment to offer ABS all while being marketed as a premium model.
Reasons for Discontinuation
The model never did boost sales as was anticipated, due to many factors. Bajaj marketed the motorcycle as a premium option for comfortable and safe commutes, however convenience and comfort come at a the cost.
Higher Pricing: It can be argued that price was Marginally higher than other regular commuters in the Platina series owing to the ABS, however the majority of the customers in that specific segment never used to spend the amount.
Tough Competition: The bicycle segment has several other models like Hero, Honda or TVS which are equipped with similar or better features than Pajaj platina 110. It was quite clear that the platina PPP would not survive long against them.
Limited market appeal: Some budget customers could not understand the worth behind additional options, which made it easier for them to dismiss the ABS as a crucial option giving commodification a wider reach.
Bajaj Platina 110 ABS Features
Bajaj Platina faced several challenges but still managed to incorporate several innovative features.
Single-Channel ABS: Which is pretty much the first one in its class, as a result it comes through as beneficial to the user during sudden/e brake.
Fuel Efficiency: This bike has cost effective measures through daily use as it does a decent mileage of roughly 70 –80 km/l.
Comfort-Oriented Design: The bike is well designed and offers a decent feel through its long seat, footpads made out of rubbers and a nitrogen gas suspension.
Modern Touches: It included led DRLs and a digital dashboard which includes the vehicle’s speed, fuel gauge and abs indicator.
What the Discontinuation Means for Existing Bajaj Customers
For the existing owners of the platina 110 ABS, the discontinuation of the bike should not come off as worrying for Bajaj Auto has promised to maintain after sales services such as repair, servicing and spare parts sales even on discontinuation of the bike. Any issues should be directly brought to an authorized Bajaj service center.
What Now Bajaj?
The discontinuation of the Bajaj Platina 110 ABS carries weight to the realities that manufacturers are faced with in attempting to push for further innovation whilst meeting market demands. Bajaj similar to other successful models should most likely continue with the ct and the pulsar series to name a few. Further the company is expected to maintain product updates and launches tailored according to customer needs.
A Lesson on Market Shifts
The withdrawal of the Bajaj Platina 110 ABS brings to light the most essential aspect of the marketing strategy. While safety features such as ABS are relevant, they are perhaps not what the more price-sensitive sectors, such as the commuter market, consider to be a priority. It is also projected that Bajaj’s move will trigger a shift in the focus towards those models which meet the correct price features ratio and customer requirements.
And a strong competition in the commuter bike dossiers is here to stay, and as such a trend should persist, the manufacturers would have to pivot the marketing strategies in order to stay afloat. Although the Bajaj Platina 110 ABS fell short in achieving its sales target, it served to demonstrate Bajaj’s willingness to invest in new technologies and new paradigms of safety for the future.