Bajaj June bike sales soften, down 12%

Sales of India's second largest two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto dipped in double digits for the third consecutive time in each of the first three months of the current financial year.

The company sold 162,253 motorcycles in June, down by 12% over 183,549 motorcycles sold during the same month in 2006. Total two-wheelers sold during June, including exports, were 164,758 units as against 188,231 units sold in June 2006.

Exports of two and three wheelers, however, during the mionth grew 42% to 48,675 units, as against 34,369 units exported during the same month last fiscal.

Sales for the first quarter ended June 30, 2007 (Q1FY07) were down further at 14%, with total two-wheeler sales standing at 499,777 units, as compared to 578,621 units in Q1FY06.

Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto, said, "The first quarter of the current fiscal has been disappointing."

The company will launch a motorcycle in September, with a monthly target of 50,000 unit sales, Bajaj added.