Mid-segment bike buyers, who are generally up-graders of 100 to 125cc models seemed to have junked purchase plans owing to high petrol prices.
Overall Motorcycle sales grew 6 per cent between April and June at 2.62 million units, compared with 2.46 million sold in the year-ago period. The 125cc+ to 150cc segment fell 9 per cent during the same period at 311,370 units compared with 342,040 in year-ago period.
The 150cc and above segment of bikes clocked more than 40 per cent growth. Brands like Ninja, KTM, Harley and Suzuki are finding surge in buyers with more model options. Automatic scooters that find favour with women have grown 29 per cent in first quarter of the financial at 687,333 units compared with 532,240 in the year-ago period.
“The urban demand is not there for 150cc bikes. The customers such as people in IT companies are moving to higher than 150cc displacement bikes,” said K Srinivas, president (motorcycles) at Bajaj Auto.
Barring Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, sales of all the other players such as Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and Yamaha fell in the 150cc segment so far this financial year.
“Rising petrol prices, food inflation and overall dampened sentiment in the industry and the economy is beginning to adversely impact certain segments,” a Hero MotoCorp official spokesman said.
“Customers are expected to move up the value chain from the 100cc segment that accounts for 60 per cent of the market, which is why 125cc segment has grown 38 per cent on a quarterly basis,” Srinivas said.
Bajaj sold 148,165 units in April to June, a fall of 18 per cent against 180,267 in the year-ago period. Hero MotoCorp’s 125cc+ to 150cc segment sales fell 30 per cent to 49,615 units in period under review against 70,464 in year-ago period. Honda’s 125cc+ to 150cc bike sales on the other hand rose a staggering 77 per cent at 55,334 units against 31,241 in the year-ago period.
