India’s leading two wheeler manufacturer, Bajaj Auto Limited has reported a decline of 19 per cent in its total domestic sales to 2,08,109 units in August 2019. This decline in sales comes at a time when the entire auto industry is in the doldrums and ahead of the festive season when sales should be at their zenith.
Taking into account motorcycle sales in the past month, sales dipped 21 percent to 1,73,024 units as against 2,18,437 units sold in August 2018. Exports of motorcycles however, increased 5 percent to 1,52,276 units in the past month as against 1,44,486 units sold in August 2018. This took total motorcycle sales down 15 percent to 3,25,300 units in August 2019 as compared to 3,62,923 units sold in the same month of the previous year.
Commercial vehicle sales in domestic as well as export market fell 13 percent in August 2019 to 64,726 units as compared to 74,169 units sold in August 2018. Domestic sales in this segment suffered a de-growth of 6 percent to 35,085 units in August 2019 as compared to 37, 194 units sold in August 2018.
Exports fell 20 percent to 29,641 units in August 2019 as compared to 36,975 units sold in the same month of the previous year. This resulted in total sales down 11 percent to 3,90,026 units in August 2019 as compared to 4,37,092 units sold in August 2018.
Taking into account year to date sales from April to August 2019, Bajaj Auto Limited also noted lower sales both where motorcycle and commercial vehicles were concerned in domestic markets. Motorcycle sales during the 5 month period dipped 6 percent to 9,54,938 units, down from 10,14,104 units sold in the same period of the previous year.
Exports on the other hand increased 9 percent to 7,75,199 units in the April to August 2019 period as against 7,11,463 units sold in the same period of 2018. These increased exports leveled total sales of motorcycles to 17,30,137 units in the 2019 period as compared to 17,25,567 units in the 2018 period.
Commercial vehicle sales in the April to August 2019 period suffered both in terms of domestic sales and exports. Domestic sales dipped 7 percent to 1,55,794 units in the 2019 period as compared to 1,67,703 units sold in the 2018 period. Exports fell substantially by 22 percent to 1,32,799 units in April to August 2019 as compared to 1,70,806 units sold in the same period of 2018. These sales in domestic and export markets took total year to date commercial vehicle sales down 15 percent to 2,88,593 units as compared to 3,38,509 units sold in the year to date 2018 period.
When taking into account total motorcycle and commercial vehicle sales in the April to August 2019 period, sales dipped 6 percent to 11,10,732 units as compared to 11,81,807 units sold in the same 5 month period of 2018. Exports increased marginally by 3 percent to 9,07,998 units in the 2019 period as compared to 8,82,269 units sold in the 2018 period while total sales in this category dipped 2 percent to 20,18,730 units in April to August 2019 as compared to 20,64,076 units sold in the same period of 2018.
