Two-wheeler sales up 13% in first half

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.