Bajaj sales fall, Honda Motorcycle races ahead

Bajaj Auto’s limited presence in the domestic market continued to pinch the Pune-based two-wheeler major, even as competitors posted a turnaround in April.

The country’s second-biggest two-wheeler producer sold just 107,035 two-wheelers in the domestic market, a fall of nearly 23 per cent as compared with sales of 138,810 units in the same month a year ago.

Total two-wheeler sales, including exports, fell sharply by 26 per cent to 150,252 units, as against 203,930 units in the corresponding period a year ago.

To restrict further fall in sales, the company is launching a slew of products, mostly from the Pulsar range, this summer. It will also launch a new bike sometime by June, according to company officials.

In a statement, Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto, said, “The response to the introduction of the new Pulsar 150 DTS-i and Pulsar 180 DTS-i in April is expected to provide further momentum for sales in May. Flat three-wheeler sales continue to reflect the subdued state of the commercial vehicle industry”.

Unlike market leader Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto has maintained its focus largely on the urban market. Meanwhile, riding high on consumer demand, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) currently India’s fourth-largest two-wheeler manufacturer, posted a growth of 36 per cent with sales of 96,782 units. The company had sold 71,022 units during the same month a year ago.

HMSI, which started its India operations with automatic scooters, managed to increase its motorcycle sales by 87 per cent in April with 42,495 units. The company now sells three motorcycles — Unicorn, Shine and CBF Stunner.

Scooter sales, which contributed 68 per cent of total sales of the company in April last year, constituted just 56 per cent this April. HMSI relaunched the Activa (an automatic scooter) last month with new add-ons.