Two-wheeler firms' sales rise in Sept

Despite high lending rates and rising inflation, the festive cheer boosted sales of two-wheeler manufacturing companies during September.

Companies such as TVS Motors, Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India, Yamaha Motors India and Suzuki Motorcycle posted better sales last month, beating sales posted in the same month last year.

Chennai-based TVS Motors, India’s third biggest two-wheeler maker posted a rise of 16 per cent during last month at 192,027 units of two-wheelers as against 165,418 units sold in the same month a year before. Overall scooter sales increased by 30 per cent in the reporting period at 55,879 units compared to 43,086 units. Motorcycles sales grew by 12 per cent recording 90,848 units against 81,381 units.

Similarly, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), the country's fourth biggest two-wheeler producer posted sales of 178,462 units in September as compared to 123,831 units sold same period last year. Sales of scooters, which form a majority of the total sales of the company, grew by 64 per cent at 107,444 units as against 65,323 units. Motorcycle also grew by 21 per cent to 71,018 units as compared to 58,508 units. Domestic sales of India Yamaha Motor too posted a growth of 35 per cent at 32,637 units in September 2011 as against 24,133 units in the same month last year. The company presently makes only motorcycles.

Jun Nakata, director, sales and marketing, India Yamaha Motor, said, “We are very happy with our sales performance this month which can be attributed to our deluxe and premium segment bikes such as FZ series and YZF-R15. The newly launched R15 version 2.0 has also been received very well in the market and we are trying our best to meet the growing demand. With the festive season around the corner, we expect our sales momentum to continue over the next few months.”

Meanwhile, Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL) reported an increase of 29 per cent in sales at 29,094 units as compared to 22,545 units sold in the same month last year, the company said in a statement. India's biggest bike maker Hero MotorCorp and second largest two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto did not disclose their sales numbers on Saturday.