Two-wheeler sales rev up in May 2014

Two wheeler manufacturers continued to have reason to cheer in May 2014 posting positive sales figures. All companies posted growth in sales, and even though sales at Bajaj Auto was lacklustre, the company made up for it by ramping up export numbers.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) revved up the sales charts, reporting an overall growth of 55 per cent in May 2014. Motorcycle sales alone registered a rise of 76 per cent to 1,60,295 units from 91,280 units a year ago. The company also reported a 42 per cent increase in scooter sales at 1,95,431 units from 137,863 units in May 2013. HMSI now holds a 24 per cent share in the domestic two wheeler market.

Leading the pack in pure volumes is Hero Motocorp, India’s largest two wheeler manufacturer. The company sold 6,02,481 units in May 2014, registering 8 per cent increase in sales from 5,57,890 units in May 2013. Riding on volumes driven by new launches, May 2014 posted Hero Motocorp’s highest-ever despatch sales for any non-festival period. The previous highest was in April 2014 when the company sold 5,71,054 units.

Anil Dua, Sr. Vice President – Marketing & Sales, Hero Motocorp Ltd, said, “The year has started well with record-breaking sales in both April and May. The demand momentum is thanks to the regular summer surge as also to the recent new launches from Hero.”

While Hero Motocorp ruled in terms of pure number of units sold, Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd topped the sales charts with the highest percentage growth of 131 per cent. The company’s domestic sales stood at 15,878 units in May 2014 as against just 6,858 units in May 2013. And leading Mahindra’s two wheeler sales is ZigWheels Commuter Bike of the Year award winner Centuro.

Viren Popli, Chief of Operations, Mahindra Two Wheelers said, “We are happy to maintain the demand momentum of our 2-wheeler division during May 2014 with a growth of 131per cent in the domestic market, which is indicative of the growing acceptance of our product portfolio especially our flagship brand, the Centuro. With a positive upsurge in socio-economic sentiments and on the back of improved demand, we hope to remain on the growth trajectory going ahead”.

TVS Motor Company sales also zoomed by 24 per cent from 140,056 units in May 2013 to 1,74,234 units in May 2014. In terms of volumes, motorcycle sales ruled the roost, at 85,475 units in May 2014, up from 66,606 units a year ago. However, it was scooter sales which posted an impressive 60 per cent increase in sales over last year’s figures. Scooter sales accounted for 53,924 units in May 2014, compared to 33,747 units in May 2013. 

Meanwhile, two wheeler sales at Bajaj Auto rose just 3 per cent to 3,13,020. Bajaj has been known for revolutionising the motorcycle market in India and continues to do so with upgrades, launches and introducing motorcycles with the latest technology and features. However, Bajaj’s absence from the high growth scooter market is considered the main reason for lacklustre sales numbers. On the other hand, India’s largest exporter of motorcycles and three wheelers continued to impress overseas markets, registering a whopping 40 per cent increase in exports at 1,56,179 units as against 111,835 in May 2013.

Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd also joined the sales party, registering domestic sales growth of over 40 per cent. The company sold 47,680 units in May 2014 against 34,021 units sold in May last year. Yamaha says the scooter Alpha, has been a major growth driver. Alpha was launched at the Auto Expo earlier this year.

“We had achieved a 7.2 per cent market share in the scooter segment last month and seek to sell 200,000 units of Alpha alone, along with 100,000 units of Ray and Ray Z combined, thereby constituting almost 50per cent of our total sales in 2014,” Roy Kurian, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd, said. 

Suzuki Motorcycle India Ltd also registered a 13 per cent increase in sales, accounting for 32,117 units in May 2014 compared to 28,455 units in May 2013.