Hero Honda bike sales dip; Bajaj, TVS post jump

New Delhi, Sept 1: Country's top motorcycle maker, Hero Honda Motors Ltd, today reported a 13 per cent dip in its sales for the month of August at 215,076 units from 246,304 sold in the same month last year.

However, the company's exports rose 4 per cent to 8,525 units in the month from 8,200 units in August 2005.

Hero Honda stated it crossed the two million sales mark in January- August 2006. During August 2006, Hero Honda sold a total of 2,15,076 two-wheelers.

Meanwhile, Bajaj Auto posted a 21 per cent jump in its motorcycle sales at 180,570 units in August as compared to 149,415 units in the same month last year.

The company's two-wheeler sales too climbed 11 per cent in August at 182,013 units as against 164,020 units in the corresponding month last year.

In addition, the sales of three-wheelers rose by 15 per cent at 26,150 units as against 22,782 units during the same month last year.

Bajaj Auto's exports also went up during the month by 36 per cent at 32,283 units from 23,752 units in the same period a year ago.

Country's third-biggest motorcycle maker, TVS Motor Co, too announced the sales for the month recording a growth of 39 per cent in its bike sales in August 2006 at 83,014 units from 59,675 units in August last year.

Its two-wheeler sales rose 32 per cent in August at 135,533 units from 103,063 units a year ago. Sales of small scooters, posted a growth of 6 per cent at 23,118 units from 21,873 in the corresponding period.

The company stated that its 'TVS StaR' and 'Apache' models continued to drive motorcycle sales and it was enhancing its production to meet the demand, especially with the festival period on the anvil.

The company will soon come out with unique options to the customer where they could choose their own colour. To begin with, this project will be launched in Bangalore.

The company said exports rose 71 per cent to 11,008 units.

TVS Scooty sales recorded 23,118 units in August 2006 compared to 21,873 units last year.

Meanwhile, country's second biggest motorcycle maker, Bajaj Auto recorded an increase of 34 per cent in its sales for the period between April-August this year at 919,872 units from 687,174 units in the same period last year.

Its total two-wheeler sales increased to 933,792 units from 742,502 units, recording a jump of 26 per cent. Its exports during April-August went up 95 per cent at 173,022 units from 88,943 units.

UNI