The month of October 2019 showed some promise for two wheeler makers in the country. The festive season and hefty discounts seemed to draw the attention of buyers in the country. Among the leading two wheeler makers in the country, Suzuki and Honda posted positive results while sales of Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp were not as promising.
Top 6 brands registered a total of 17,15,983 two wheelers were sold in the month of October 2019, down from 19,58,565 units sold in the same month of the previous year; but an increase of 6.32 percent over sales in September 2019 which stood at 16,14,051 units.
Hero MotorCorp was at the No.1 spot in the list of two wheeler sales in the country. Total sales were at 5,99,248 units, down 16.31 percent as against 7,16,059 units sold in the same month of the previous year. Sales were even lower as compared to 6,24,215 units sold in September 2019. The company’s Haridwar plant saw production cross the 2.5 crore unit mark. This milestone has been achieved in 11 years of operation at what is the world’s largest two wheeler manufacturing unit from where the Hero HF Deluxe i3S, Splendor+, Splendor iSmart 110, Passion Pro and Passion 110 are produced.
Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India – sales decreased marginally in October 2019 to 4,87,782 units, down from 4,90,124 units sold in October 2018. However sales increased 6.99 percent as against 4,55,896 units sold in September 2019 showing that festive sales and discounts offered in the past month brought in some promise for the company. Honda is planning to launch the BS6 CB Shine 125 sometime soon as RTO registration documents surface online. It will be the company’s second BS6 product after the Activa 125 which was launched in September.
TVS Motors was at a No.3 spot on the list of best selling two wheelers companies India with total sales of 2,52,684 units in October 2019. These sales were 25.46 percent lower as compared to sales of 3,38,988 units sold in the same month of the previous year but 3.92 percent higher as against 2,43,163 units sold in September 2019. The company’s total exports increased 20 percent to 69,339 units last month as against 57,926 units exported in October 2018 while within the two wheeler segment, exports increased 22percent to 55,477 units.
At No. 4, Bajaj Auto Limited also noted a dip in sales in October 2019. Sales which had stood at 2,81,582 units in October 2018 dipped to 2,42,516 units in the past month. However, when taking into account sales in September 2019, sales increased 40.55 percent as sales in that month stood at 1,72,543 units. Bajaj is back with the old Chetak scooter, this time in an electric avatar and bookings are expected to commence soon. This new Chetak will be on sale in Pune and Bengaluru initially and then expand to other markets in due course.
Royal Enfield sales dipped 3.58 percent in October 2019 to 67,538 units as against sales of 70,044 units sold in October 2018 but there was a 23.11 percent increase when comparing to sales in September 2019 which stood at 54,858 units. The company has noted an outstanding increase in exports which stood at 4,427 units in the past month as against 407 units in the same month of the previous year. The RE Twins – Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 are seeing outstanding response from export markets. At the 2019 EICMA Show, the company is expected to reveal the next generation Royal Enfield Classic, Bullet and Thunderbird series of motorcycles.
Suzuki Motors India has registered their highest ever monthly sales in October 2019. Domestic sales stood at 66,215 units, a growth of 7.20 percent as against sales of 61,768 units in October 2018. Sales increased by 4.48 percent in the past month as against sales of 63,376 units sold in September 2019. Suzuki Motors had offered festive discounts and benefits upto Rs.13,000 on its Access 125, Burgman Street, Gixxer SF and Intruder which could have contributed to these increased sales.
