Two-wheeled automobiles: India
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.
|
Contents |
Sales
2004-14
See graphic:
Sale of two-wheelers in India, 2004-14
2016>18: High-end bike sales slow down
Nandini Sengupta, High-end bike sales hit slow lane, March 23, 2018: The Times of India
From: Nandini Sengupta, High-end bike sales hit slow lane, March 23, 2018: The Times of India
As leisure biking picks up speed in India, more and more global motorcycle brands are flocking to this market and new products and brands are rolling in thick and fast. But despite the excitement about the highend luxury motorcycle market, the latest SIAM data shows that the 500cc-plus segment is shrinking.
The real growth is in the 200-500cc segment where Royal Enfield continues to reign supreme. The higher end moto-market — where global brands like Harley Davidson, Triumph, Kawasaki and others play — is either flat or has turned negative.
Consider the stats: According to Siam, between April and February, sales in the 500cc-plus segment fell to 5,881 units from 6,790 a year ago. In contrast, the 200-500cc market is vrooming with sales up nearly 21% in the April-February period. This segment has gone from 7,62,068 units in the previous April-February to nearly a million units (9,21,089 units) now.
The segment immediately preceding this — the 150-200cc market — has clocked the highest growth in the motorcycle market at nearly 42% with Bajaj, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, Suzuki and TVS all clocking impressive growth.
Motorcycle marketers are betting big on this demand shift upwards as some of the more mass-market segments continue to shrink. The 125-150cc market, for instance, has shrunk from 11,93,426 units to 10,17,713 units this time round. “The demand shrink is happening in those commuter segments which focused on urban markets as demand there is moving towards 200cc and above,” said a senior motorcycle marketer. “But rural demand has ensured that the bottom end of the motorcycle market remains buoyant.”
Indeed, the 75-110cc entrylevel commuter segment has actually grown from 5.9 million units to 6.7 million units in the April-February period. The 110-125cc commuter segment has also grown from 1.7 million units to 2 million units in the same period. Both these segments were under pressure when rural demand was stuck in first gear due to poor rains, among other reasons.
MOTORCYCLES
Honda Motorcycles & Scooters
2017: India the largest market
India is now the largest two wheeler market globally , by volume, for Japanese automobile major Honda. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India's (HMSI) volume contribution globally hit 32% in the first quarter of this financial year -its highest ever so far.
According to top HMSI officials the company's two wheeler sales grew 20% in the AprilJuly period -compared to 9% growth clocked by the industry -with scooters growing 19% and motorcycles growing 20% including domestic sales and exports.
“India is also the biggest production hub now for Honda with a combined capacity of 6.4 million units compared to Indonesia which was earlier the largest at 5.8 million units,“ said YS Guleria senior VP marketing and sales HMSI.
With this India has become Honda's largest motorcycle market globally in FY16-17 dethroning Indonesia which however continues to be Hon da's biggest scooter market globally. In an effort to keep up that momentum the company is planning to enter the high growth 250 cc plus motorcycle market that is currently dominated by Royal Enfield.
“We have a strong intention to enter this segment in the near future. We have been considering how to enter it with the right product and compete from the cost and price point because competition enjoys high cost competitiveness,“ said M Kato president and CEO HMSI. Apart from the lifestyle segment Honda's also trying to expand the market for scooters to semi urban and rural segments. To that end the company on Monday launched the 110 cc Cliq at a price of Rs 44,524.
“Overall rural markets contribute around 28-30% of Honda's sales with 20% of scooter sales coming from these markets“ added Guleria.
Apart from rural markets, focus is also on the 5 southern markets which together account for 28% of two wheeler sales countrywide and 43% scooter sales.
