GaadiWaadi –
Bajaj is expected to introduce the 350 cc versions of the NS 400Z and Dominar 400 soon to bring them under GST 2.0 tax benefits
It is no secret that the revised GST 2.0 framework has decisively been altering the motorcycle landscape. Since the new structure came into force, engine capacity has become the single biggest pricing determinant, forcing manufacturers to rethink not just pricing but product strategy itself. Under the updated norms, motorcycles with engines capped at 350 cc now attract a substantially lower tax rate of 18 per cent.
It has immediately improved affordability in the volume-based segments of the market bringing down on-road prices and improving value perception for buyers. It has also effectively strengthened the middleweight capacity space. However, the flip side is that the two-wheelers exceeding the 350 cc threshold have been pushed into a steep 40 per cent tax bracket.
What was earlier a manageable premium has now turned into a price escalation – significantly widening the gap between sub-350 cc motorcycles and their larger capacity counterparts. Despite initially not passing the hike to customers by absorbing it for limited period, brands affected by this are now making changes to their product lineups.
It is in this context that Bajaj Auto’s reported move toward a new 350 cc engine platform makes strategic sense. Rather than persisting with 400 cc motorcycles that suffer from increased taxation, the company appears to be exploring a reduction in displacement to reclaim pricing flexibility without and central to this plan are upcoming products such as the Pulsar 350 and Dominar 350 as Bajaj looks to bring in 8 new Pulsars by May 2026.
The Pulsar NS-based 350 from NS 400Z and similar derivatives could also underpin future offerings from Triumph and KTM. While launch timelines remain unconfirmed, the Pulsar 350 and Dominar 350 could arrive sooner rather than later. Instead of developing an all-new motor, Bajaj is believed to be reworking its existing 373 cc engine by narrowing the bore while retaining the stroke.
It will allow the company to dip just under the critical 350 cc line with minimal redevelopment costs. The resulting engine is unlikely to chase headline numbers. Power figures will dip but the trade-off could be a smoother and more accessible torque delivery better suited to real-world riding. For motorcycles like the Pulsar 350, the mechanical changes are expected to stop there with the rest of the package carrying forward largely unchanged.
The Dominar, however, presents a different opportunity. Nearly a decade into its lifecycle, a downsized Dominar 350 could finally be the catalyst for long-overdue updates – whether in electronics, weight reduction or design refresh.
The post Bajaj To Likely Introduce 350 cc Pulsar NS & Dominar Soon In India appeared first on Gaadiwaadi.com – Latest Car & Bike News by Surendhar M.