A recent study by analytical firm Credit Suisse stated the cyclical recovery of the domestic two-wheeler sector is priced along with the four-wheeler sector is proved to be true for the Indian two wheeler sector. A pickup in the pace of economic recovery and a good monsoon expectation has helped country’s three largest manufacturers- Hero Motocorp, Bajaj Auto and Honda Scooters and Motorcycles India (HSMI) to post growth in April 2016. While country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer posted a double digit growth, Bajaj sales also witnessed a jump of 2 per cent last month. A brief look at the manufacturers April 2016 sales report.
Hero MotoCorp
Country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp reported 14.89 per cent increase in sales at 6,12,739 units in April. The company had sold 5,33,305 units in April 2015.
“Sustaining its performance trajectory in the past few months, Hero sold 612,739 units of two-wheelers in April, registering a sturdy double-digit growth of 15 per cent over the corresponding month last year when the company had sold 533,305 units,” the company said in a statement.
This is the third consecutive month of double digit growth for Hero MotoCorp. The company’s sales went up by 13.6 per cent and 14 per cent in February and March respectively.
Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India (HMSI)
Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India (HMSI), the manufacture of India's highest selling scooter Activa, has recorded a 27 per cent growth in its cumulative April 2016 sales. Honda sold a total of 431,011 units in April 2016 as compared to 340,679 in the same month last year.
As usual the company’s big growth came from its scooter segment. While motorcycle sales stood at 150,651, a 14.8 per cent year-on-year jump over 131,204 units, HMSI's scooter sales increased 33.1 per cent to touch 263,320 units.
The company also saw its exports grow from 11,699 units in April 2015 to 17,040 units exported in April 2016.
Bajaj Auto
Market leader in the 150-200cc segment, Bajaj Auto sold over 2 lakh units during April 2016, courtesy a big jump in the recently launched Bajaj V15 and its cruiser bike Avenger. Bajaj sold 2, 91,898 two-wheelers in April 2016, a 2 per cent growth over April 2015 where it sold 2, 85,791 units.
The company's three-wheeler sales jumped 82 per cent to 25,700 units in April as compared to the same month a year ago. However, overall exports declined 36 per cent to 1,03,976 units from 1.62 lakh vehicles in April 2015.
S Ravikumar, President (Business Development & Assurance) said to Mint, “the fall in exports was due to one of its key markets Nigeria facing currency problems resulting in a drop in orders from the African country.”
The company hopes to sell 375,000 units this month aided by the buoyancy in the domestic market and a pick-up in exports, said Ravikumar.
BW Reporters
The author is Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld
