Boom time for automobile firms

October sales of Hero Honda, TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto and Maruti soar.

Aided by attractive marketing schemes and festive buying, automobile companies have reported record sales in October 2004.

Hero Honda, the country's largest two-wheeler maker, said the 245,475 motorcycles it sold in October were the highest monthly sales by any company worldwide. This record is 18 per cent higher than the 207,472 motorcycles it sold in October 2003.

Hero Honda Managing Director Pawan Munjal attributed the rise in sales to the "Free2Roam" offer made by the company where all customers were given free a Reliance LG mobile handset.

Chennai-based TVS Motor Company recorded its best two-wheeler sales in October 2004. TVS's sales in October 2004 were 117,696 units, up 13 per cent from the 104,308 in October 2003.

Bajaj Auto's October 2004 motorcycle sales at 143,491 jumped 34 per cent over October 2003. Total two-wheeler sales in October increased by 16.8 per cent to 157,631.

Passenger car market leader Maruti Udyog sold 49,399 vehicles in October 2004 against 38,175 vehicles in October 2003, a rise of almost 30 per cent.