Two-wheeler sales gain momentum in December

Two-wheeler manufacturers reported yet another month of impressive growth in December 2004. Market leader Hero Honda Motors Ltd (HHML) sold 2,30,751 motorcycles compared with 1,60,191 units sold during the same month last year, registering a significant growth of 44 percent.

Motorcycle sales for Bajaj Auto Ltd was 143,727 units during the month, recording a 100.7 per cent growth over December 2003 sales. Bajaj's cumulative motorcycle sales in the current fiscal crossed one million, according to a release from the company.

The Chennai-based TVS Motor too continued its growth curve by clocking 63,496 units in December 2004 compared with 52,464 units in the same period last year, recording a growth of 21 per cent.

Hero Honda sold 25,28,699 motorcycles in calendar 2004, retaining its 'World No 1' position for the fourth consecutive year, according to a company release.

The release also said that in the process, the company has outdone its own record of 18,73,632 motorcycles, set in 2003. This marks a significant jump of 35 per cent.

Bajaj in its release said that all of its three models - CT100, Discover DTS-i and Pulsar DTS-I - are leaders in their respective segments. Overall sales of two and three wheelers sales at Bajaj in December 2004 stood at 168,806 units.

Total two-wheeler sales for TVS in December 2004 stood at 96,886 units compared with 84,306 units in the same period last year, recording a growth of 15 per cent.

TVS Motor's sales in the third quarter of this fiscal rose 25 per cent to 2,03,245 units compared with 1,62,293 units during the same period last year.

Total two-wheeler sales in the third quarter stood at 3,22,412 units compared with 2,74,094 units previously, a growth of 18 per cent.