Foreign investments from renowned companies like Volkswagen, Volvo and some others have helped flourish the auto-sector of Pakistan. Auto industry’s motorcycle segment has also received a stream of foreign investment. Motorcycle is the obvious alternate for anyone looking to own a vehicle and can not afford a car. However, the major concern with the use of motorbikes has been the convenience of usage, where it doesn’t score high for females and the elderly.
Motorcycle producers are increasingly focusing on improving upon the performance and cost efficiency of the two-wheeler. Therefor, the goal is to initiate such expertise to manufacture semi-auto or completely automatic gearboxes. Such transmission motorcycles have rarely been seen in Pakistan.
Previously, Superpower launched its automatic scooter in Pakistan which did not go well in the market at that time.
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Functions of the new Motorcycle
Now, Union Star has recently launched its 70cc motorcycle built with the same automatic technology. The main focus of the technology is to comfort older people and females, as these bikes are really easy to ride.
These automatic motorcycles don’t need a kick to start, doesn’t have any gearbox which means no clutch either. Unlike manual bikes, these 70cc bikes operate on direct-drive technology. Various sources have confirmed that the 4-transmission bike contains a single cylinder and can contain 9 liters of petrol.
The price tag on the bike has not yet been confirmed but the officials claim that Union Star’s new 70cc auto bike will cost around Rs45,000.
Pros and Cons
The automatic bikes have the advantage of push to start technology which requires minimum effort that most users favor. It becomes awfully difficult to quickly gear up and down if you are living in a city with narrow roads. Since the bike has no clutch option, it only requires acceleration to run. Provided this, it will be a great help for new biker to learn how to ride.
These auto-bikes may not penetrate the market as people are more likely attracted to manual transmission. Even though automatic bikes are easier to ride, they will still need to change the overall mindset of the people.
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It’s a fact that most bikers favor simple rides like Honda CG125 or CD70. The main reason behind it is that every roadside mechanic recognizes the bike and most importantly, its spare parts are easily available as it is assembled in Pakistan.
Additionally, people might not favor this auto tech vehicle also because not every mechanic is aware of the technology. It will require a specialized mechanic to fully understand the vehicle. The spare parts of automatic bikes, expected to be of high price as they are not Pakistan assembled, is another reason for a possible struggle the vehicle may face in the market.
Source: PakWheels
