TVS Flame to meet December 2007 launch date

30 October, 2007

TVS Motors, that had slapped a Rs 250-crore defamation suit against Bajaj Auto over Bajaj Auto's alleged patent infringement claims against TVS, intends to go ahead with the December 2007 launch of its 125 cc bike TVS Flame.

The bone of contention in the TVS - Bajaj standoff was the twin spark plug technology that TVS had used in the TVS Flame. Bajaj Auto alleged that TVS had copied its patented DTS-i technology. Bajaj Auto had launched its XCD using the same technology.

Meanwhile TVS maintained that the Flame had used the CCVTi technology, not the DTSi as claimed by Bajaj Auto.

TVS has said that it does not at all anticipate an injunction move from Bajaj that is likely to delay the launch of TVS Flame.

The company plans to begin production of the Flame in November 2007 and launch the bike in December 2007 as planned. According to a report, TVS and Bajaj have held several meetings with representatives of both companies over the last few weeks over the patent issue. The issue was blown out in the open on September 2, 2007, when Bajaj Auto alleged patent infringement by TVS and said it would sue the Chennai-based two-wheeler maker for using the same technology for the same purpose, using it for the same engine size (125 cc) and with the same construction.

Bajaj had then decided to wait for the launch of Flame before taking any decision on going ahead with this suit.