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The overall volume growth in the auto industry may have slowed to only two per cent in 2012-13 and dropped further in the first three months of this fiscal. But every cloud has its silver lining.
Even as bikes found fewer takers, scooters defied the industry trend, clocking a healthy 14 per cent growth in this period even though a part of this growth can be attributed to a small base.
But they have been steadily gaining a larger share of the two-wheeler pie for over five years now. Hero (Pleasure, Maestro) and Honda (Activa, Dio, Aviator) have been the biggest gainers in this segment this time around.
Hero’s market share steadily improved to 21 per cent in the three months ended June 2013 from about 16 per cent in 2011-12.
Honda now commands a 50 per cent share, up from 48 per cent in 2011-12. Pockets of growth were seen in bikes too. While sale of entry-level commuter bikes (75-110cc) languished for want of rural demand, premium segment customers traded down to the value/deluxe segment (110-125 cc), considering the high inflation and interest costs.
This led to a spurt in sale of such middle-of-the-road bikes.
Launches such as the Hayate (Suzuki), Ignitor (Hero) and Phoenix (TVS) cashed in on this trend.
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