"Normally you try to increase power and you burn more fuel-but we have achieved improved performance with lower fuel consumption with a twin spark plug".

"We were at a great cusp and a big opportunity was staring at US - a big domestic market, a government waking up to environmental issues, and customers demanding high value, lower fuel consumption and good quality."

The R&D department that started out with just ten people now has almost 300 and is growing. Bajaj is filing patents at a rate of 50 to 60 a year. Mr. Ravikumar said: "To be alive and kicking amidst top-notch competition is being clear about product strategies and making technology work in a "distinct" way for you. I think we have achieved this not just once with Pulsar, but with all our new launches since 2000. For example, the recently launched Bajaj XCD is the best 125cc value proposition."

Of a total 1.2 million units produced in the half year up to September 2007, Bajaj exported 308,000 - putting exports at 26 per cent. Bajaj is the marker leader in Sri Lanka. Other important markets include Colombia, Bangladesh, Mexico, Guatemala, Africa and the Middle East, Philippines and Indonesia.

The group is also investing heavily in production capacity. It has three plants in the state of Maharashtra - at Pune, Aurangabad and Chakan-and in April 2007 it commissioned a fourth plant at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand.

Bajaj has won numerous auto awards in India. These include the super "Platinum" Award for manufacturing excellence, Bike of the year/ranked first ‘in’ Top 30 Automobile Brands of India for the Pulsar, ‘Bike of the year 2008 and Award for motorcycles up to 125cc - 2008 for the newly introduced XCD 125cc, ‘bike manufacturer of the year’ Award for 2007 and a TPM excellence award category 1 for its Chakan plant.

Bajaj has been listed on the Mumbai stock exchange for many years, but remains a family concern. Bajaj promotes hold 29.9 per cent of the group, and another 17 per cent is held by friends and associates.