Bajaj Auto bike July sales up 11.5%

Bajaj Auto, the country's second-largest bike maker, today reported a 11.5% rise in motorcycle sales in July at 1,15,216 units against 1,03,260 units in the same month last year.

The company said total two-wheeler sales, including scooters, stood at 1,26,821 units in the month, up 5.6% from 1,20,092 units in July '04.

The company sold a total of 22,585 units of three-wheelers in the month at a growth of 4.3%.

Saying that it will launch a new bike model in January next year, the company said it was expanding  motorcycle  production to 2,00,000 units monthly from October this year.

Overall sales for Bajaj Auto in July '05, including two-and three-wheelers, stood at 1,49,406 units against 1,41,743 units in the same month last year. Exports, who form a part of these figures, were, however, down 3.8% to 14,698 units (15,279).

"Heavy rains in Maharashtra took their toll on export dispatches, leading to a drop in volumes which are expected to recoup in August," the company said.