Two-wheeler makers ride high in May

Riding on the robust trend in demand for two-wheelers, Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motors and Yamaha posted double-digit sales growth in May.

The country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero Honda, today posted its highest monthly sales ever at nearly 4,36,000 units of motorcycles and gearless scooters.

Sales grew 14 per cent, compared to 3,82,000 units sold in the same month last year. Analysts tracking the company termed the growth substantial as the base was high.

Anil Dua, senior vice-president (marketing, sales and customer care), Hero Honda Motors, said: “We have maintained that the fundamentals of the domestic demand are very positive and that is why the contribution from all our models is significant. Consumer sentiments are looking very positive and with the monsoon expected to be near normal this year, we expect a robust rate of growth even this year.”

Bajaj Auto, the country’s second-biggest motorcycle manufacturer, today reported a 63 per cent rise in two-wheeler sales at 2,69,000 units, including exports, compared to 1,65,000 units sold in the same month last year.

The company did not provide separate numbers for domestic and exports. Total sales, including three-wheelers, rose 62 per cent to 2,99,000 units, as against 1,85,000 units.

The company’s newly-launched models — including Pulsar 135 and Discover 100 — drove its overall volumes. With a successful re-entry into the 100cc space, the company is planning to have more products on the same lines in the near future.

Chennai-based TVS Motor Company logged 27 per cent growth in domestic two-wheeler sales at 1,36,000 units, compared to 1,07,000 units in the corresponding month last year.

Sales of scooters, 23 per cent of the total two-wheeler sales, grew 42 per cent to 31,884 units, as against 22,486 units. Its recently-launched scooter, Wego, also boosted the sales.

Exports of two-wheelers grew 62 per cent to 18,046 units.

Meanwhile, total sales of India Yamaha Motor, the Indian subsidiary of Yamaha Motors, Japan, grew by 17 per cent to 25,033 units during May, as compared to 21,388 units in the same month last year.

Domestic sales were flat at 17,614 units, a rise of four per cent over 16,952 units sold a year earlier.

Koji Arai, director and chief sales officer, India Yamaha Motor, said: “We are particularly impressed with the response for the entry level YBR 110 and refreshed FZ16 and FZ-S, which have helped increase our sales. In domestic markets, we will continue to focus on dealer network expansion to further augment our sales in coming months.”