Riding on the robust trend in demand for two-wheelers, Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motors and Yamaha posted double-digit sales growth in May.
The country’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero Honda, today posted its highest monthly sales ever at nearly 4,36,000 units of motorcycles and gearless scooters.
Sales grew 14 per cent, compared to 3,82,000 units sold in the same month last year. Analysts tracking the company termed the growth substantial as the base was high.
Anil Dua, senior vice-president (marketing, sales and customer care), Hero Honda Motors, said: “We have maintained that the fundamentals of the domestic demand are very positive and that is why the contribution from all our models is significant. Consumer sentiments are looking very positive and with the monsoon expected to be near normal this year, we expect a robust rate of growth even this year.”
Bajaj Auto, the country’s second-biggest motorcycle manufacturer, today reported a 63 per cent rise in two-wheeler sales at 2,69,000 units, including exports, compared to 1,65,000 units sold in the same month last year.
The company did not provide separate numbers for domestic and exports. Total sales, including three-wheelers, rose 62 per cent to 2,99,000 units, as against 1,85,000 units.
The company’s newly-launched models — including Pulsar 135 and Discover 100 — drove its overall volumes. With a successful re-entry into the 100cc space, the company is planning to have more products on the same lines in the near future.
Chennai-based TVS Motor Company logged 27 per cent growth in domestic two-wheeler sales at 1,36,000 units, compared to 1,07,000 units in the corresponding month last year.
Sales of scooters, 23 per cent of the total two-wheeler sales, grew 42 per cent to 31,884 units, as against 22,486 units. Its recently-launched scooter, Wego, also boosted the sales.
Exports of two-wheelers grew 62 per cent to 18,046 units.
Meanwhile, total sales of India Yamaha Motor, the Indian subsidiary of Yamaha Motors, Japan, grew by 17 per cent to 25,033 units during May, as compared to 21,388 units in the same month last year.
Domestic sales were flat at 17,614 units, a rise of four per cent over 16,952 units sold a year earlier.
Koji Arai, director and chief sales officer, India Yamaha Motor, said: “We are particularly impressed with the response for the entry level YBR 110 and refreshed FZ16 and FZ-S, which have helped increase our sales. In domestic markets, we will continue to focus on dealer network
TVS posts 30 pc growth in May
Wednesday, 02 June 2010 08:50
New Delhi
Sustaining growth across all segments, Chennai-based TVS Motor Company today reported a 30.44 per cent increase in two-wheeler sales in May to 1, 54,667 units. The total two wheeler sales of the company grew 30 per cent in May 2010 from 118,574 units in May 2009 to 154,667 units.
Cumulative sales for the current financial year increased 29 per cent with sales of 299,356 units against 231,693 units in the comparable period of the previous year.
Domestic sales (two-wheeler) registered 27 per cent growth, increasing from 107,439 units in May 2009 to 136,621 units in May 2010.
While motorcycle sales of the company grew by 27 per cent in May 2010 with sales of 67,906 units compared to 53,495 units in the same month of the previous year. Scooters sales continued its spectacular run growing by 42 per cent from 22,486 units in May 2009 to 31,884 units in the May 2010.
Furthermore, maintaining an upward growth, the company's three wheeler business registered sales of 2313 units in May 2010 over 707units in May 2009.
Exports posted sizeable growth of 62 per cent during the month of May 2010 with sales of
18,046 two-wheelers against 11,135 units in May 2009.
New Delhi
Sustaining growth across all segments, Chennai-based TVS Motor Company today reported a 30.44 per cent increase in two-wheeler sales in May to 1, 54,667 units. The total two wheeler sales of the company grew 30 per cent in May 2010 from 118,574 units in May 2009 to 154,667 units.
Cumulative sales for the current financial year increased 29 per cent with sales of 299,356 units against 231,693 units in the comparable period of the previous year.
Domestic sales (two-wheeler) registered 27 per cent growth, increasing from 107,439 units in May 2009 to 136,621 units in May 2010.
While motorcycle sales of the company grew by 27 per cent in May 2010 with sales of 67,906 units compared to 53,495 units in the same month of the previous year. Scooters sales continued its spectacular run growing by 42 per cent from 22,486 units in May 2009 to 31,884 units in the May 2010.
Furthermore, maintaining an upward growth, the company's three wheeler business registered sales of 2313 units in May 2010 over 707units in May 2009.
Exports posted sizeable growth of 62 per cent during the month of May 2010 with sales of
18,046 two-wheelers against 11,135 units in May 2009.
Hero Honda raises prices by up to Rs 1,000
June 01, 2010 17:42 IST
The country's largest two-wheeler maker, Hero Honda on Tuesday said it has increased the prices of its products by up to Rs 1,000 with immediate effect due to rising input costs.
"We have not taken any price hike due to commodity costs since August, 2008, but the burden has increased very much recently and we are passing it partially to the consumers," Hero Honda Senior Vice-President (Marketing and Sales) Anil Dua told PTI.
The company has hiked the prices of different models by either Rs 500 or Rs 1,000. While its Hunk and CBZ will be costlier by Rs 1,000, most other models will be dearer by Rs 500, he added.
However, there will be no hike in the prices of its flagship model, Splendor, and premium bike Karizma. "Steel prices have risen very much in the last couple of months and tyre prices are also moving upwards. Rubber prices are really hardening," Dua said.
He, however, said the company is expecting the situation to improve in the coming months.
The country's largest two-wheeler maker, Hero Honda on Tuesday said it has increased the prices of its products by up to Rs 1,000 with immediate effect due to rising input costs.
"We have not taken any price hike due to commodity costs since August, 2008, but the burden has increased very much recently and we are passing it partially to the consumers," Hero Honda Senior Vice-President (Marketing and Sales) Anil Dua told PTI.
The company has hiked the prices of different models by either Rs 500 or Rs 1,000. While its Hunk and CBZ will be costlier by Rs 1,000, most other models will be dearer by Rs 500, he added.
However, there will be no hike in the prices of its flagship model, Splendor, and premium bike Karizma. "Steel prices have risen very much in the last couple of months and tyre prices are also moving upwards. Rubber prices are really hardening," Dua said.
He, however, said the company is expecting the situation to improve in the coming months.
Bajaj Auto gets Chinese patent for ExhausTec technology
1 Jun 2010, 2222 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto on Tuesday said its 'ExhausTec' technology, used to improve power in single cylinder four stroke engines,
has been granted a patent in China.
The company has been using the technology in its bikes since 2004 and already has the patent for it in India, Europe, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Iran and Malaysia, Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) said in a statement.
"The Chinese State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) granted Bajaj Auto patent rights for its invention 'ExhausTEC' by patent number 'ZL 200580025898.7' dated April 14, 2010," the company said.
BAL has commercialised the technology in various models, including the Avenger, Pulsar, Discover and Platina.
NEW DELHI: Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto on Tuesday said its 'ExhausTec' technology, used to improve power in single cylinder four stroke engines,
has been granted a patent in China.
The company has been using the technology in its bikes since 2004 and already has the patent for it in India, Europe, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Iran and Malaysia, Bajaj Auto Ltd (BAL) said in a statement.
"The Chinese State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) granted Bajaj Auto patent rights for its invention 'ExhausTEC' by patent number 'ZL 200580025898.7' dated April 14, 2010," the company said.
BAL has commercialised the technology in various models, including the Avenger, Pulsar, Discover and Platina.
HMSI targets over 20%sales jump in 2010-11
HMSI targets over 20%sales jump in 2010-11
Press Trust of India / Tapukara (rajasthan) May 31, 2010, 16:36 IST
Two-wheeler maker Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today said it is expecting its sales to grow by over 20 per cent this fiscal.
"HMSI sold 12.7 lakh units last fiscal and this fiscal our target is to sell 15.5 lakh units," HMSI President and CEO Shinji Aoyama told reporters at the foundation stone laying ceremony of its second manufacturing facility here.
In 2009-10, HMSI's motorcycle sales were at 5.2 lakh units and scooter sales stood at 7.5 lakh units. The company is expecting equal contributions this financial year from both the segments.
Early this month, Aoyama had said that its bike sales will overtake scooter sales in the country next fiscal and apart from existing models, new launches will spur growth in the motorcycle segment.
The wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese auto giant Honda is targeting to export 1.15 lakh during this fiscal compared to 80,000 units in 2009-10.
It exports motorcycles to over 40 countries, including Latin America, Europe and other neighbouring nations.
HMSI's second manufacturing facility will be set up at an initial investment of Rs 500 crore.
"We have reached our peak capacity at Manesar plant, so we are starting our second plant at Tapukara. Mass production in the second plant will start by the second half of 2011," Aoyama said, adding that the company has not yet zeroed in on the model range to be manufactured at the plant.
The new 2.4 lakh sq metre facility in Rajasthan will have an initial capacity to produce six lakh units per annum. Depending on market demand, the output can be expanded later up to 12 lakh units annually and the investment can go up to Rs 1,100 crore.
"It is a significant milestone for Honda's two-wheeler business in India. India is one of the most important markets for future growth," Honda Motor Corporation Chief Operating Officer (Asia and Ocenia) Fumihiko Ike said.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected give employment to about 3,000 people.
The company's current plan at Manesar has an anvil capacity of 15.5 lakh units, which will be expanded to 16 lakh units by next year. When its second plan goes on stream, HMSI's total production capacity will be 22 lakh units per annum.
Press Trust of India / Tapukara (rajasthan) May 31, 2010, 16:36 IST
Two-wheeler maker Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today said it is expecting its sales to grow by over 20 per cent this fiscal.
"HMSI sold 12.7 lakh units last fiscal and this fiscal our target is to sell 15.5 lakh units," HMSI President and CEO Shinji Aoyama told reporters at the foundation stone laying ceremony of its second manufacturing facility here.
In 2009-10, HMSI's motorcycle sales were at 5.2 lakh units and scooter sales stood at 7.5 lakh units. The company is expecting equal contributions this financial year from both the segments.
Early this month, Aoyama had said that its bike sales will overtake scooter sales in the country next fiscal and apart from existing models, new launches will spur growth in the motorcycle segment.
The wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese auto giant Honda is targeting to export 1.15 lakh during this fiscal compared to 80,000 units in 2009-10.
It exports motorcycles to over 40 countries, including Latin America, Europe and other neighbouring nations.
HMSI's second manufacturing facility will be set up at an initial investment of Rs 500 crore.
"We have reached our peak capacity at Manesar plant, so we are starting our second plant at Tapukara. Mass production in the second plant will start by the second half of 2011," Aoyama said, adding that the company has not yet zeroed in on the model range to be manufactured at the plant.
The new 2.4 lakh sq metre facility in Rajasthan will have an initial capacity to produce six lakh units per annum. Depending on market demand, the output can be expanded later up to 12 lakh units annually and the investment can go up to Rs 1,100 crore.
"It is a significant milestone for Honda's two-wheeler business in India. India is one of the most important markets for future growth," Honda Motor Corporation Chief Operating Officer (Asia and Ocenia) Fumihiko Ike said.
Once fully operational, the plant is expected give employment to about 3,000 people.
The company's current plan at Manesar has an anvil capacity of 15.5 lakh units, which will be expanded to 16 lakh units by next year. When its second plan goes on stream, HMSI's total production capacity will be 22 lakh units per annum.
Hot wheels hit supply woes
Hot wheels hit supply woes
Pankaj Doval, TNN, May 31, 2010, 01.17am IST
NEW DELHI: Dinesh Prabhakar faces a strange predicament. A young corporate executive who has tasted success early, Prabhakar wants to announce his arrival in style. In his late twenties, Prabhakar wants to match his success with a stylish and powerful set of wheels — a Toyota Fortuner that costs Rs 20 lakh. But despite having the money, he still can’t have it.
It reflects the rapidly changing dynamics of the Indian auto industry. What was once a solely demand-driven business is gradually witnessing a new phenomenon — long waiting periods. It’s almost as if the industry has gone back to the pre-liberalisation days of waiting period on cars. Marketing heads of car companies often complain in private about how they get calls from offices of ministers and bureaucrats seeking early delivery of cars. “But it is not just possible, we do not have enough cars to match the demand,” says one of them
in exasperation.
For the record — Toyota has stopped accepting bookings for the Fortuner SUV since January. The bookings opened only for a few weeks and remain shut even now. “We just don’t have enough production to match the demand that has been phenomenal and beyond our expectation. The bookings have been closed as we do not want people to wait for delivery endlessly after paying hefty booking amounts,” says Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director (marketing) at Toyota Kirloskar Motors.
Currently, the waiting list on the Fortuner runs for over three months and the company hopes to start accepting fresh bookings only around July, by when it hopes to trim the backlog substantially. “We have ramped up the production capacity of the Fortuner and are currently doing around 950 cars monthly. But even this is not enough,” Singh adds.
And Fortuner is not the only vehicle on the coveted ‘in the queue’ list. Maruti’s Swift and Dzire are among the vehicles that have enjoyed long waiting periods for years now, and so are some of the new ones that have hit the market recently. These include Volkswagen’s Polo, Ford’s Figo and the Beat compact and Cruze sedan from General Motors.
“The demand has been overwhelming in the market, especially for many of the newer models that were keenly awaited. It has been more than what we anticipated,” says Mayank Pareek, managing executive officer (marketing and sales), at Maruti Suzuki.
Maruti has a waiting list on some of its hot sellers for a long time even as it tries to push the sagging models. While certain variants of the Swift and Dzire carry waiting period of around two months, the company’s new multi-utility vehicle Eeco — that was priced attractively under Rs 3 lakh — also has added a waiting list on it.
“The wait on the Eeco is around 4-5 months now. While we had initially expected to sell 2,000-3,000 units monthly, but the demand has been around 6,000 units, which is much more above the estimates,” Pareek says.
GM’s marketing head Ankush Arora says he faces a similar situation on the Beat and Cruze, the new models launched by the company. And the waiting is not confined only to cars. Royal Enfield’s Classic500 model —that was launched in India in November last year after making its debut in the European markets about a year back — is one such hot seller in the two-wheeler space. The bike, which carries a Rs 1.25-lakh price tag, has been on the wish list of youngsters, biking enthusiasts and celebrities, leaving manufacturer Royal Enfield with a long waiting list.
“The waiting list for the Classic500 model is around 6-8 months. And even as we try and boost production, we have our own limitations as the bike carries a number of specially painted components that take time to be delivered,” a senior company official said.
A senior company official also pointed out that the model has been a hit for the company from the word go and received as many as 1,000 bookings in just two weeks of its launch. The company has made over 5,000 deliveries since November and averages around 1,000 in production monthly, which it plans to increase now.
Though long booking periods mean high demand, auto makers are not happy. “It is not good and we are not at all pleased with the situation. A customer should get the delivery of a vehicle within 2-3 days of booking. We are here to sell a car and not just to make bookings,” Maruti's Pareek says.
Most marketers say that a long waiting lists also pose a threat as buyers may not be ready to queue up for a model but may switch over to the one available off-the-shelf. “It is not healthy and we not only run the risk of losing a customer but also invoking customer dissatisfaction,” GM's Arora says.
He says that a waiting list running over 20-25 days is not ideal and can hurt the brand as well as the company. “We have been pushing for higher production to catch up with the backlog fast,” Arora adds. Ford, which has around a month’s waiting on the Figo, is all set to add a new production shift at its factory to add to the churn-out and keep cars ready at showrooms.
Analysts say that a revival in the car market and a general tendency to upgrade to newer models has been among the reasons fuelling the waiting lists and the sudden demand.
There have been upgrades even within segments, like the compact car market. Marketers estimate that 58% customers of small cars change models within five years and have been upgrading from the low-end compacts to the high-end ones. This practice is only fuelling demand and affecting supply.
There was a time when Premier Padmini cars and Bajaj scooters were available at a hefty premium because of the long waiting list. But that was because of production controls imposed by the government. But in this day and age when there are no production controls, it's probably only a faulty assumption of demand that has created shortage of certain models in the market.
Pankaj Doval, TNN, May 31, 2010, 01.17am IST
NEW DELHI: Dinesh Prabhakar faces a strange predicament. A young corporate executive who has tasted success early, Prabhakar wants to announce his arrival in style. In his late twenties, Prabhakar wants to match his success with a stylish and powerful set of wheels — a Toyota Fortuner that costs Rs 20 lakh. But despite having the money, he still can’t have it.
It reflects the rapidly changing dynamics of the Indian auto industry. What was once a solely demand-driven business is gradually witnessing a new phenomenon — long waiting periods. It’s almost as if the industry has gone back to the pre-liberalisation days of waiting period on cars. Marketing heads of car companies often complain in private about how they get calls from offices of ministers and bureaucrats seeking early delivery of cars. “But it is not just possible, we do not have enough cars to match the demand,” says one of them
in exasperation.
For the record — Toyota has stopped accepting bookings for the Fortuner SUV since January. The bookings opened only for a few weeks and remain shut even now. “We just don’t have enough production to match the demand that has been phenomenal and beyond our expectation. The bookings have been closed as we do not want people to wait for delivery endlessly after paying hefty booking amounts,” says Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director (marketing) at Toyota Kirloskar Motors.
Currently, the waiting list on the Fortuner runs for over three months and the company hopes to start accepting fresh bookings only around July, by when it hopes to trim the backlog substantially. “We have ramped up the production capacity of the Fortuner and are currently doing around 950 cars monthly. But even this is not enough,” Singh adds.
And Fortuner is not the only vehicle on the coveted ‘in the queue’ list. Maruti’s Swift and Dzire are among the vehicles that have enjoyed long waiting periods for years now, and so are some of the new ones that have hit the market recently. These include Volkswagen’s Polo, Ford’s Figo and the Beat compact and Cruze sedan from General Motors.
“The demand has been overwhelming in the market, especially for many of the newer models that were keenly awaited. It has been more than what we anticipated,” says Mayank Pareek, managing executive officer (marketing and sales), at Maruti Suzuki.
Maruti has a waiting list on some of its hot sellers for a long time even as it tries to push the sagging models. While certain variants of the Swift and Dzire carry waiting period of around two months, the company’s new multi-utility vehicle Eeco — that was priced attractively under Rs 3 lakh — also has added a waiting list on it.
“The wait on the Eeco is around 4-5 months now. While we had initially expected to sell 2,000-3,000 units monthly, but the demand has been around 6,000 units, which is much more above the estimates,” Pareek says.
GM’s marketing head Ankush Arora says he faces a similar situation on the Beat and Cruze, the new models launched by the company. And the waiting is not confined only to cars. Royal Enfield’s Classic500 model —that was launched in India in November last year after making its debut in the European markets about a year back — is one such hot seller in the two-wheeler space. The bike, which carries a Rs 1.25-lakh price tag, has been on the wish list of youngsters, biking enthusiasts and celebrities, leaving manufacturer Royal Enfield with a long waiting list.
“The waiting list for the Classic500 model is around 6-8 months. And even as we try and boost production, we have our own limitations as the bike carries a number of specially painted components that take time to be delivered,” a senior company official said.
A senior company official also pointed out that the model has been a hit for the company from the word go and received as many as 1,000 bookings in just two weeks of its launch. The company has made over 5,000 deliveries since November and averages around 1,000 in production monthly, which it plans to increase now.
Though long booking periods mean high demand, auto makers are not happy. “It is not good and we are not at all pleased with the situation. A customer should get the delivery of a vehicle within 2-3 days of booking. We are here to sell a car and not just to make bookings,” Maruti's Pareek says.
Most marketers say that a long waiting lists also pose a threat as buyers may not be ready to queue up for a model but may switch over to the one available off-the-shelf. “It is not healthy and we not only run the risk of losing a customer but also invoking customer dissatisfaction,” GM's Arora says.
He says that a waiting list running over 20-25 days is not ideal and can hurt the brand as well as the company. “We have been pushing for higher production to catch up with the backlog fast,” Arora adds. Ford, which has around a month’s waiting on the Figo, is all set to add a new production shift at its factory to add to the churn-out and keep cars ready at showrooms.
Analysts say that a revival in the car market and a general tendency to upgrade to newer models has been among the reasons fuelling the waiting lists and the sudden demand.
There have been upgrades even within segments, like the compact car market. Marketers estimate that 58% customers of small cars change models within five years and have been upgrading from the low-end compacts to the high-end ones. This practice is only fuelling demand and affecting supply.
There was a time when Premier Padmini cars and Bajaj scooters were available at a hefty premium because of the long waiting list. But that was because of production controls imposed by the government. But in this day and age when there are no production controls, it's probably only a faulty assumption of demand that has created shortage of certain models in the market.
Yamaha turns to rural areas to continue growth
30 May 2010, 1140 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: Two-wheeler maker Yamaha today said it aims to double sales in rural market within the next five years and plans to add about 1,000 outlets in sub-urban and remote areas of the country by 2014.
The wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of the Japanese giant Yamaha, which sold 2.2 lakh units in India in 2009, is also expecting its total sales to increase by up to 30 per cent in this year.
"We have so far seen good sales in urban areas, mainly in big cities, due to our image as a premium bike maker. Now, to continue with the growth, and even to further accelerate, we will focus to strengthen our presence in rural areas," India Yamaha Motor National Business Head Pankaj Dubey told PTI.
The rural two-wheeler market is not penetrated enough and hence offers huge growth potential, he added.
"Currently, about 15 per cent of our total sales come from rural areas and we are targeting to increase it to 30 per cent by 2014," Dubey said.
To meet its target, the company is also expanding its sales outlet and is planning to open thousands of dealerships with smaller sizes, called 'sub-dealer', in rural areas.
"Currently, we have about 500 sub-dealers and we will add another 1,000 such outlets by 2014," Dubey said.
The company, at present, also has 430 standard dealerships across the country and it will add about 20 more such outlets in the next five years, he added.
Dubey, however, said the firm will never enter into the production of low-cost bikes, targeting the rural markets.
"We are not entering into the cheap bike (category). Yamaha is a niche and premium bike maker and it will remain like that...Certain sections of the rural areas are now fed up with cheap bikes and they now want some good quality bikes like R15, Fazer and FZ," he added.
India Yamaha's four prominent motorcycles -- FZ16, FZS, Fazer and YZF-R15 -- are priced between Rs 65,000 and Rs 98,000.
When asked about the company's target for 2010, Dubey said it is expecting 25-30 per cent increase in sales.
He said the company sold 2.2 lakh units in 2009. The Indian motorcycle market witnessed over 25 per cent growth during the last fiscal at 73,41,139 units.
NEW DELHI: Two-wheeler maker Yamaha today said it aims to double sales in rural market within the next five years and plans to add about 1,000 outlets in sub-urban and remote areas of the country by 2014.
The wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of the Japanese giant Yamaha, which sold 2.2 lakh units in India in 2009, is also expecting its total sales to increase by up to 30 per cent in this year.
"We have so far seen good sales in urban areas, mainly in big cities, due to our image as a premium bike maker. Now, to continue with the growth, and even to further accelerate, we will focus to strengthen our presence in rural areas," India Yamaha Motor National Business Head Pankaj Dubey told PTI.
The rural two-wheeler market is not penetrated enough and hence offers huge growth potential, he added.
"Currently, about 15 per cent of our total sales come from rural areas and we are targeting to increase it to 30 per cent by 2014," Dubey said.
To meet its target, the company is also expanding its sales outlet and is planning to open thousands of dealerships with smaller sizes, called 'sub-dealer', in rural areas.
"Currently, we have about 500 sub-dealers and we will add another 1,000 such outlets by 2014," Dubey said.
The company, at present, also has 430 standard dealerships across the country and it will add about 20 more such outlets in the next five years, he added.
Dubey, however, said the firm will never enter into the production of low-cost bikes, targeting the rural markets.
"We are not entering into the cheap bike (category). Yamaha is a niche and premium bike maker and it will remain like that...Certain sections of the rural areas are now fed up with cheap bikes and they now want some good quality bikes like R15, Fazer and FZ," he added.
India Yamaha's four prominent motorcycles -- FZ16, FZS, Fazer and YZF-R15 -- are priced between Rs 65,000 and Rs 98,000.
When asked about the company's target for 2010, Dubey said it is expecting 25-30 per cent increase in sales.
He said the company sold 2.2 lakh units in 2009. The Indian motorcycle market witnessed over 25 per cent growth during the last fiscal at 73,41,139 units.