The Hindu Business Line : Festive season fails to sustain momentum for two-wheelers

New Delhi, Dec. 1 The spark created by sales in the festive season does not seem to have kept up its momentum with two-wheeler companies like Bajaj and TVS continuing to post a decline in sales during November.

Leading two-wheeler manufacturer Hero Honda posted a 2.8 per cent increase in sales at 2,88,027 units as against 2,80,171 units in the same month last year.

During November, Bajaj sold 2,09,876 units of motorcycles compared with 2,14,321, a two per cent decrease over the previous year.

Similarly TVS Motor Company recorded sales of 57,113 units compared with 68,874 units, down by 17.07 per cent. During the period, Bajaj offered a Rs 4,000 discount on Platina and Hero Honda also offered discounts on its entry level bikes to rope in more customers. However, TVS had shunned any such strategies that could give a fillip to its sales.

Mr Anil Dua, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Hero Honda, had recently told Business Line that the company’s efforts to expand the market by bringing in entry level customers through discounts had led to positive growth during the festive season.

Among the four-wheeler manufacturers that announced their sales figures on Saturday, the festive season proved to be an add on in sales.

“Maruti has posted a robust growth much ahead of the industry average. May be it is trying to induce customers to pre-pone its booking as it gears up for a plant shutdown in December,” added Mr Sabarad.

Maruti Suzuki said that November saw its highest increase in domestic sales at 65,216 units, up by 24 per cent from 52,574 units, with its newly launched SX4 and good discounts.

The company’s A3 segment that includes SX4 and Esteem grew at the fastest pace by 104.5 per cent at 4,260 units followed by its A2 segment that grew by 28.6 per cent at 47,641 units during the month. The company’s exports also saw 82.3 per cent jump at 4,483 units.

General Motors also saw over 100 per cent jump in its sales at 5,356 units, from 2,554 in the same month last year, ensuing mainly from the sales of its mini car Spark.

But for premium car maker, Honda Siel Cars India, the festive season did not cheer up sales as the company posted sales of 4,425 units, a 5.34 per cent per cent decline compared with 4,675 units in the same month last year.