Bajaj Auto sales zoom in August

Bajaj Auto has reported its highest ever monthly sales of 329,364 units in August, a 55 per cent increase from 213,072 units in the same period last year.

Of these, motorcycles accounted for 289,176 (182,441) units with commercial three-wheelers taking up the balance 40,188 (30,021) units. Exports totalled 98,578 units, up 31 per cent from August 2009's level of 75,164 units.

Bajaj has targeted sales of four million vehicles this fiscal, which roughly translates into 3.35 lakh units each month. Thus far, it has notched up nearly 1.58 million for the first five months of this fiscal, an average of 3.2 million vehicles a month.

The coming months will see the sales momentum increasing which is generally the case for the auto sector during the festive season. The biggest challenge for most manufacturers is battling capacity constraints at their plants coupled with the fact that timely supplies of key components continue to be a cause for concern.
From Bajaj Auto's point of view, the biggest growth drivers have been its Pulsar and Discover motorcycle brands which are now clocking over two lakh units a month.
The renewed brand strategy will now apply to all its key products such as the three-wheeler and possibly the ultra-low cost car which is scheduled for a 2012 launch.
Bajaj has upped the sales target for 2011-12 to five million vehicles. The scrip closed 1.28 per cent higher on Thursday at Rs 2,784.50.