A robust motorcycle market, surging scooter sales and modest moped market, pushed two-wheeler sales up by 13.1 per cent during the first half of this fiscal. | |
| A total of 28.7 lakh two-wheelers were sold during April-September 2004 compared to 25.4 lakh units sold during the year ago period, data compiled by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) showed. |
| |
| Motorcycle and step-thru sales, which constituted about 78 per cent of the total two-wheeler sales in India, the second-biggest market after China, rose 14.3 per cent at 22.4 lakh units. |
| |
| Scooter and scooterettee sales rebounded by posting an impressive 10.4 per cent jump at 4.74 lakh units while its sibling moped sales grew 6.53 per cent at 1.60 lakh units. |
| |
| After blockbuster sales during the most part of 2001-02, two-wheeler sales lost esteem since the fourth quarter of 2002-03 mainly due to slack demand from rural areas after a drought and imbroglio over the implementation of the value added tax (VAT) regime. |
| |
| Demand, however, started picking up from the second quarter of 2003-04, which was sped up after bountiful rains raised harvest prospects and improved sentiments. |
| |
| With resurgence of the scooter market, sales could be good in the second half of 2004-05 as harvest has been satisfying following good monsoon, albeit belated. Good harvest will lead to a surge in rural demand for two-wheelers. |
| |
| In the motorcycle and step-through segment, India's biggest motorcycle maker Hero Honda posted a massive 34.5 per cent growth at 11.9 lakh units. Hero Honda's closest rival Bajaj Auto recorded a growth of 20.2 per cent at 5.68 lakh units during the first six months this fiscal. |
| |
