Brands
Bajaj Auto to use digital, on-ground activities to promote new KTM 790 Duke
MUMBAI: The economic slowdown will not impact the performance of KTM 790 Duke, Bajaj Auto Ltd senior manager (probiking) Vikas Iyer told Indiantelevision.com just after the launch of the superbike in nine cities-Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Guwahati.
He said that there are only around 2 lakh superbikes in the country right now, and the riders of those are actively willing to level up. However, the brand is providing easy ownership options to the buyers through the tie-up with Bajaj Auto Finance Ltd, keeping in mind the impact the current economy might be having on the budgets of enthusiasts. “Going ahead, we are going to have a lot of our dealerships tying up with local financial service providers as well,” Iyer revealed.
Iyer shared that the brand will be focusing highly on digital and on-ground activation activities for the select consumer base they are planning to target. He mentioned that the brand doesn’t spend much on marketing, but the budgets are equally divided between digital and on-ground activities.
“In three months, we will be starting off with super rides and super track dates, which are to give the customers first-hand great riding experience on roads, highways, and on tracks. We are planning to give the riders an in-depth track race sort of experience to make them understand what the 790 Duke is capable of doing. It is going to be a sort of mentoring session,” Iyer said.
Iyer also shared that that brand has just started off with its influencer marketing activities as well to target the biking enthusiasts on social media.
“We are interacting with influencers who are helping us create a lot of content. In fact, it (superbiking) is a space where they also are trying to venture (in a bigger, better way), and we are trying to figure out what we could do together; how we can make fans out there, better bikers,” he quipped.
The KTM 790 Duke was launched in Mumbai on Monday. Also present at the launch was Bajaj Auto Ltd president (probiking) Sumeet Narang who indicated that the brand will soon be launching a few more products in the 200-390 cc section in the coming months.
He also hinted towards the development of select products for the biking enthusiasts in the adventure tourism space, which might be launched in the coming 12 months in India.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
