Hero Honda races ahead of Bajaj in May

After a gap of more than a year, Hero Honda has reported a higher growth rate than arch rival Bajaj Auto in monthly sales volume.

Despite a very large base, Hero Honda has reported 34 per cent rise in total two-wheeler sales in May 2006 at 3.03 lakh units against 2.26 lakh units in the same month last year.

Bajaj Auto reported 27 per cent rise in motorcycle sales in May at 196,120 units against 153,975 units in the same month last year.

Hero Honda had sold 3 million vehicles in 2005-06 and has a dominant market share of around 48 per cent in the 6 million-odd units motorcycle market in India.

The higher growth numbers reported by Hero Honda is partly owing to the discount the company has been offering on its volume generating models in select markets in the country.

Since the first week of May 2006, Hero Honda has been offering cash discount and other freebies such as insurance worth Rs 2,000 per vehicle.

The country's third largest two-wheeler company, TVS Motor company reported a 23 per cent rise in sales in May this year at 78,271 units compared with 63,585 units in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, car market leader Maruti Udyog today reported 27.24 per cent increase in domestic sales at 50,904 units in May this year against 40,006 units in the same month last year.

The growth reported by Maruti for May 2006, was far ahead of the 12.9 per cent growth reported in April this year. Total sales in May stood at 53,396 units during the month, which includes 2492 units of exports.

The company said sales in the domestic entry level model Maruti 800 grew by 10.25 per cent in May compared to sales in the same month last year.

Sales in the domestic B segment, comprising Alto, WagonR, Zen and Swift increased by 38.56 per cent, while sales in the C segment comprising Baleno and Esteem rose by 9.93 per cent during May this year.

The country's second-largest car company, Hyundai Motor India recorded 15 per cent domestic growth in May 2006. HMIL registered total sales of 25,883 units in May, of which 16,102 units was sold in the domestic market.

The company's bread-and-butter model, Santro registered a volume of 12,475 units in domestic market, up by 33 per cent over the same period last year. Passenger and commercial vehicles major Tata Motors is yet to report is sales numbers for May 2006.

General Motor India today reported 39 per cent increase in domestic sales at 3478 units in May this year against 2,503 units in the same month last year.

The company sold 1,625 units of Chevrolet Tavera and 403 units of the recently launched Chevrolet Aveo during the month.

The company's manufacturing plant in Halol, Gujarat is undergoing a expansion. GMI plans to enhance its capacity to 85,000 units in the current fiscal.

Premium car maker Honda Siel Cars India registered an increase of 18.4 per cent in May 2006 over the corresponding month last year.

The company sold a total of 4,152 units in May 2006 against 3,507 units in May 2005. SkodaAuto India sold 1,053 units in May 2006, registering a growth of 46.25 per cent over the 720 units sold in in May 2005.