Hero, Bajaj sales zoom on rural buys, launches

Bucking slowdown in four-wheeler sector, two-wheeler majors Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto recorded their highest monthly sales last month buoyed by festive spirit. Soaring petrol prices, high, interest rates and inflation notwithstanding, companies rode on new launches and demand from rural areas with expectations of even better sales in October.

Hero MotoCorp sales increased 27 per cent at 5.49 lakh units in September 2011 against 4.33 lakh units in the year-ago period. “Sales have been regularly in excess of half a million two-wheelers per month since the formation of our new company, setting pace for our continued leadership. We expect this momentum to continue into the festive season,” said Anil Dua, senior vice-president (marketing and sales), Hero MotoCorp. The firm plans to launch two models — Impulse dirt motorcycle and Maestro gearless scooter — later this month.

Bajaj Auto sold 4.17 lakh units last month against 3.53 lakh units in September 2011, registering an increase of 18 per cent. “Flagship Discover brand has cumulatively crossed sales of four million units,” the automaker said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange. The company sold 3.71 lakh motorcycles in September 2011 against 3.41 lakh in year-ago period, its highest ever motorcycle sales.

“Two-wheelers are cost efficient and remain cheapest mode of personal transport. Any nominal increase in petrol price will not see any impact on sales of two-wheelers,” said Nikhil Deshpande, auto analyst at Pinc Research.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India saw 44 per cent increase in sales owing to addition of fresh capacity rendering nearly two-fold increase in scooter sales. The company sold 1.78 lakh units in September 2011 against 1.23 lakh units in the year-ago period. “Scooter sales increased 64 per cent to 1.07 lakh units last month compared to 65,323 units in the year-ago period,” the company said. TVS Motor sold 2.19 lakh units in September 2011 against 1.88 lakh units in year-ago period, showing increase of 17 per cent.