Bajaj enters war of words with INS Vikrant’s metal scrap dealer IB Commercials

INS Vikrant has a rich war heritage, having served the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. And after all these years, the aircraft carrier has managed to trigger another war (of words), this time between two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto and IB Commercials, the company that dismantled the INS Vikrant once it was decommissioned. 

Bajaj unveiled its INS Vikrant tribute 150cc motorcycle the V15 earlier this month, the fuel tank ofwhich has been built using the scrap metal from the retired aircraft carrier. A marine-themed logo embossed on the body is a symbol of the same. The bike manufacturer however entered into a controversy soon thereafter, as it was accused of using the ship’s dismantling footage without permission by IB Commercials, the company that carried out the disassembling. It had alleged that Bajaj had not obtained an NOC for some of the rights attached with the footage and the promotion of Vikrant's scrap metal, which has gone into manufacturing the bike.

In reply to these accusations raised in an email by IB Commercials on January 27, Bajaj Auto issued a firm statement recently. It labelled IB Commercials' charges as a "dishonest attempt to extract more money" from the company. "You are aware that we have purchased the scrap aluminium and iron and steel generated from the breaking of INS Vikrant for a valuable consideration from you," it says. "The sale of the scrap was unconditional and we are free to deal with the metal so purchased in such manner as we may deem fit without any claim from you."

Director of IB Commercials, Abdul Karim Zaka had purported the claim that his company had no knowledge of the footage being used by Bajaj in their commercials. "They used the clip that we shot on our phones in their ad. We had only shared that video with a certain national daily," he said and added that the dismantling zone was a restricted access area. 

Bajaj refuted these claims by stating that the footage was lawfully sourced from its lawful owner for valuable consideration. "You are neither owner of any alleged goodwill of INS Vikrant nor do you possess or have retained any rights that can prelude us from using the scrap purchased by us. The question of obtaining any NOC from you, in the circumstances, cannot and or doe does not arise," says the letter. Bajaj further warns the dealer from issuing any information to third parties about the scrap and says that it will reserve the right to take "appropriate action" if the demand is not heeded. 

Baja has bought around 1 metric tonne of aluminium and 2 metric tonnes of iron and steel (generated from the dismantled carrier) for Rs 1,80,000, according to IB Commercials. This metal will be used to manufacture limited edition bikes, following the exhaustion of which a cheaper version of the V15 will be launched. 

Mechanically, the Bajaj V15 will be powered by an all-new 150cc DTSi single-cylinder oil-cooled unit that makes 12PS of power at 7,500 rpm and 13Nm of peak torque at 5,500 rpm. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed transmission.

The bike will be priced between Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 and will lock horns with the likes of the Suzuki Gixxer and Honda Hornet in the segment.