Shradh to impact two-wheeler sales by 20%

Two-wheeler sales will be hit by 20 per cent (by volumes) in September on account of the Pitrupaksaha or Shradh period that began on September 18 and will end on October 2, said leading automobile dealers in Mumbai. The dip in sales will be more or less the same throughout the country, they said.

"We sell about 400 bikes every month. This month, sales during Shradh is likely to come down by 30 per cent and by 20 per cent in the whole of September," said an official at Sah & Sanghi.

A leading Hero Honda dealer in Mumbai said, "Sales are likely to be hit by 20-30 per cent in Mumbai."

Car dealers of Hyundai, Toyota, Maruti, Tata Motors, Honda, Ford, Fiat and Mahindra & Mahindra in Mumbai said volume sales would be hit by about 10 per cent during the month.

"September will also be a dull period for car makers owing to Pitrupaksha period. However, the market would bounce back during the festival season," said a senior Mahindra & Mahindra executive.

Citing shradh effect, Ford recently cut price of its popular Ikon car by 55,000.

"We have estimated a 10 per cent dip in sales for September. To attract more buyers this season, we are offering cash discount of Rs 12,000 on Hyundai Accent and Rs 30,000 on Hyundai Elantra. Owing to Pitrupaksha, we have increased our cash discounts by 30-40 per cent," said an official at Hyundai Jayabharat Automobiles, Worli, Mumbai.