Two-wheeler makers get export breather amid slump in domestic sales

Two-wheeler exports rose by over 4 per cent in the April-September period of the current fiscal, with Bajaj Auto leading the segment by shipping over 900,000 units to various markets, including Africa and Latin America, as per latest data by industry body SIAM.

Two-wheeler dispatches, including motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, stood at 17,93,957 units in the first half of the current fiscal, as compared to 17,23,280 units in the same period of 2018-19.

Scooter exports during the period under review stood at 2,01,277 units, down 10.87 per cent from 2,25,821 units in the April-September period of 2018-19.

Motorcycle shipments, however, rose by 6.81 per cent during the period at 15,85,338 units as against 14,84,252 units earlier.

On the other hand, exports of mopeds were down by a massive 44.41 per cent at 7,342 units as compared to 13,207 units in April-September period last year.

Pune-based Bajaj Auto led the segment with shipments of 9,34,581 units, up 7.5 per cent from same period last fiscal, the data by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed.

It was followed by TVS Motor Company and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) which exported 3,43,337 and 1,74,469 units, respectively, during the period under review.

Bajaj exports its bikes to over 70 countries and last year dispatched around 40 per cent of its total production to Africa, Latin America and Middle East markets. The company exported around 20 lakh units last fiscal.

Similarly, TVS Motor Company exported 3,43,337 units in the April-September period this fiscal, up 6.24 per cent from same period last fiscal. On the other hand, HMSI's overseas dispatches were 23.09 per cent lower than the April-September period of last financial year.

India Yamaha Motor exported 1,56,058 units, up 21.38 per cent from last fiscal. It was followed by domestic market leader Hero MotoCorp at 92,823 units. The company's overseas shipments were 12 per cent down this fiscal as compared with the same period of 2018-19.

Suzuki Motorcycle India's foreign dispatches stood at 54,372 units, up 35.61 per cent.

Other notable exporting companies during the period included Royal Enfield (22,956 units), Piaggio Vehicles (14,050) and Mahindra Two Wheelers (297).

In the domestic market, total two-wheeler sales witnessed a decline of 16.18 per cent in the April-September period at 96,96,733 units, from 1,15,68,498 units in the same period of previous fiscal.

From Hero MotoCorp to TVS, two-wheeler sales remain in reverse gear

Reflecting the broad-based slowdown in consumption, two-wheeler sales in India for scooters and motorcycles, showed no signs of turning the corner in June, as most companies crimped dispatches to align demand to supply. Combined sales of top six makers skidded 11% to 1,608,395 units during the month over the same period a year ago, showed monthly sales data released by companies. 

From Hero MotoCorp to TVS, two-wheeler sales remain in reverse gear

Auto companies in India count dispatches to dealers as sales. The overall volumes were dragged down by top two manufacturers, Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) as the firms pared dispatches sharply to address stock pile at their dealerships. While deliveries to Hero dealers dropped 12% year-on-year, it contracted 15% at HMSI’s.

TVS Motor, the third largest two-wheeler maker, too, snipped deliveries by 8 per cent over last June. Bajaj Auto, which so far had managed to buck the slowing trend, corrected deliveries, albeit, marginally. The company cut dispatches by 1% over last year.