Bike, Car Majors Scorch Sales Street in Sept

Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, others beat tough market conditions to post brisk sales

Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler maker by volume, posted record sales of 549,625 units in September, registering a growth of 26.75% over the yearago month. This was the third month in a row when the company reported sales of over half-a-million units. Hero MotoCorp, which dissolved its joint venture with Japan’s Honda Motor Company earlier this year, said sales in the three months to September rose 20% to 1.54 million units over the yearago quarter.
“We have been able to maintain strong growth since the formation of our new company and also expect the same momentum to continue in the festive season of October and November,” said Anil Dua, senior vicepresident (marketing & sales) at Hero MotoCorp.
Hero’s rival and the country’s second biggest two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto also reported brisk sales in September. The company said sales rose 18% to 371,000 units in the month. Exports touched 141,000 units, a growth of 39% over the year-ago month. The company said sales of its flagship brand Discover also crossed the fivemillion units mark last month.
Among other automakers that announced their September sales figures on Monday, Skoda Auto India reported a 12.75% growth to 1,654 units. The Indian unit of the Czech carmaker had sold 1,467 units in September 2010.
“Despite tough market conditions, we have maintained a healthy growth rate,” said Thomas Kuehl, board member (sales & marketing) at Skoda Auto India. “Besides the recent launch of the Laura RS sports variant, we have also introduced two more upgrades in the Fabia hatchback that gives our customers many options to take several value offerings and luxury features in the same compact car.”
Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor said sales grew 73% in September to 2,176 units. The company had sold 1,256 units last year. The company attributed the jump to the sales of its compact model Micra, which posted a 25% increase to 1,475 units. The rest of the contribution came from the sales of its sports utility vehicle Nissan X-Trail, Teana sedan and 3702 sports car, Nissan said in a statement.
Commercial vehicle maker VE Commercial Vehicles recorded a 20% jump in sales in the month under review to 4,627 units. The company, which is a joint venture between Swedish Volvo Group and Delhi-based Eicher Motors, had sold 3,864 units in the same month last year. Its domestic sales in the month increased to 4,152 units from 3,665 units in the year-ago month, a growth of 13.29%. Exports rose to 475 units from 199 units shipped in September 2010.