A blissful Dec 2014 for two-wheeler makers

Two-wheeler manufacturers in India welcomed the new year, with much celebration, having posted increase in their sales for the month of December.

Popular cruiser motorcycle brand Royal Enfield has reported 48.27 per cent increase in total sales in December 2014 at 28,634 units as against 19,312 units in the year-ago.
Domestic sales also increased by 47.78 per cent at 28,179 units last month as against 19,067 units in December 2013, the company said, adding, exports during the month stood at 455 units as against 245 units last year, up 85.71 per cent.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has reported a 25 per cent growth in its overall sales for 2014. According to the company, while the industry grew 12 per cent, the company managed to raise its offtake by 25 per cent in the period under review by selling over 28.24 lakh units.

“We are cautiously optimistic for 2015. Policy decisions on issues like four per cent excise duty relief and government support to rural ecosystem which will go a big way in boosting sales,” said HMSI Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) Y S Guleria.
The company added that it expects the two-wheeler industry to grow at lower double-digit growth in 2014.

The company said it is expanding its production by commencing the erection of the world’s largest scooter plant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with committed investment of Rs.1,100 crore. The company added that it will launch more than 10 refreshed models among new products in 2015.

Suzuki Motorcycle India has reported 42.65 per cent rise in sales at 29,036 units for the month of December 2014. The company had sold 20,355 units in December 2013, Suzuki Motorcycle India said.

Yamaha Motor India has reported 12.13 per cent increase in domestic two-wheeler sales at 44,602 units in December 2014. The company had sold 39,777 units in December 2013.

Yamaha Motor India Sales Vice President (Sales & Marketing) Roy Kurian said: “Our relentless efforts to rev up sales, backed by innovative marketing strategies and an impeccable product portfolio across segments, have reaped robust results.”
For the calendar year 2014, Yamaha clocked domestic sales of 5,66,586 units, as against 4,61,814 units in 2013 — registering 22.68 per cent growth.

Hero MotoCorp last month reported its best-ever calendar year performance, with a record sale of 6,645,787 units in 2014 from an offtake 6,183,849 units sold during 2013.
The yearly sales represents a growth of 8 per cent. In December 2014, the company sold 526,097 units from an off-take of 524,990 units in the corresponding month of 2013.
TVS Motor Company has reported 20.3 per cent increase in its total sales at 1,91,880 units in December 2014.

The company had sold 1,59,495 units in the same month of the previous year. Total two-wheeler sales also increased by 18.67 per cent to 1,81,994 units last month as against 1,53,358 units in the same month in 2013.

Domestic two-wheeler sales stood at 1,57,438 units last month, up 18.67  per cent from 132,664 units in the year-ago period. Sales of scooters were up 25.33 per cent to 52,411 units last month as against 41,817 units a year ago.

Motorcycles sales were up 21.9 per cent to 70,188 units during last month as compared to 57,576 units in December 2013

Meanwhile, two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto reported 5.52 per cent decline in motorcycle sales to 2,46,233 units in December 2014. The company had sold 2,60,645 motorcycle units in the year-ago period.

Its exports were up 10.20 per cent during the month at 1,66,134 units as compared to 1,50,753 units in the same month, a year ago.