Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Wednesday, Apr 03, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Wednesday, Apr 03, 2002 |
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Industry & Economy
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Two/Three Wheelers Bajaj Auto sales up 11.7% in 2001 Our Bureau
MUMBAI, April 2 BAJAJ Auto Ltd (BAL) has ended 2001-2002 with a 11.7 per cent rise in total sales of 2 & 3-wheelers to 13,58,083 units as against the previous corresponding 12,15,147 units. "After 1995-96, this is the best in terms of year-on-year growth for Bajaj Auto,'' an official statement said today. The company's 2-wheeler sales moved up during the period to 11,97,617 units (10,59,970 units in 2000-2001) including a rise in motorcycle sales to 6,55,714 units (4,22,016 units) and fall in geared scooter sales to 4,07,299 units (4,41,768 units). Sale of ungeared scooters dipped to 66,601 units (75,596 units) while that of step-thrus fell sharply to 68,003 units (75,596 units). Sale of 3-wheelers grew to 1,60,466 units (1,55,177 units). In March 2002, BAL's motorcycle sales rose to 69,620 units (46,143 units). Total 2 & 3-wheeler sales for the period was 1,24,701 units (1,10,789 units). According to the statement, despite it being sold mostly in Maharashtra, the three month-old `Pulsar', reached a sales volume of over 5,500 units in March making it the best selling model in the 125 cc and above category. The motorcycle will be sold nationally by April and May. "Pulsar, Boxer and Caliber Croma are our engines of growth,'' Mr R.L. Ravichandran, Vice President (Business Development & Marketing), BAL, has said. Senior BAL officials had commented some time back that the company's 2-wheeler portfolio comprising both scooters and motorcycles has strategic value in that when the high motorcycles sales of today begin to weaken, its scooter manufacturing abilities would be of help. While this may be the case, in principle, there is a carrying cost to capacities which should affect BAL's scooter plants when sale of scooters decline as they did in 2001-2002. When contacted, a senior BAL official explained that while this is true, BAL benefits from both flexible assembly lines and the initiative it took a year ago of readying its older Akurdi plant to maintain healthy capacity utilisation. Thus, in tune with rising motorcycle demand, lines at Waluj switched wholly to BAL-Kawasaki motorcycles. At its new Chakan plant, assembly lines can handle both non-Kawasaki bikes and ungeared scooters. Akurdi, in the meantime, has taken over production of geared 2 & 4-stroke scooters and 2 & 4-stroke M80 step-thrus. Additionally, it also supplies inputs - like gears - to both Waluj and Chakan, he said.
Palio sales zoom
MUMBAI: Car manufacturer, Fiat India Pvt. Ltd, has said that it sold 4,003 units in March as against 631 units sold during the corresponding period the previous year. Of the 4,003 cars sold, the Palio accounted for 3,577 units, the Siena/Siena Weekend 305 units and the Fiat Uno, the balance 121 units, an official statement said.
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