Monday, May 15, 2006
Industry & Economy - Exports & Imports
Two-wheeler exports on the fast lane http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/15/stories/2006051503170100.htm
Our Bureau
Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda top the list in bikes, Honda Motorcycle in scooters
New Delhi , May 14
It is not just auto components that are driving exports for the Indian automotive industry. Officials point out that exports of two-wheelers have revved up over the past year, with total two-wheelers exports jumping by over 40 per cent in the last fiscal.
The main destination is neighbouring countries with other South-East Asian nations.
While exports of scooters increased by 38 per cent in the last fiscal to 83,873 units, exports of motorcycles jumped by 39.4 per cent to 3,86,202 units in the year.
Bajaj Auto was the largest exporter in the year with overseas sales of 1,65,288 units, followed by Hero Honda at 92,666 units and Yamaha at 55,063 units. TVS Motor Company too saw a sizeable jump in bike exports at 54,078 units in the last fiscal compared with 38,828 units in the previous year.
Incidentally, most of the exports were accounted for the by the smaller engine capacity bikes of between 75 cc to 125 cc. This segment accounted for 70 per cent of motorcycle exports last fiscal followed by the 125 cc to 250 cc segment, which accounted for 29 per cent of sales.
"This trend in exports is only going to accelerate further with global two-wheeler makers stepping up sourcing of smaller bikes from India and Indian bike manufacturers setting up assembly units overseas," points out an industry observer.
In fact, the first month of the current fiscal has already seen bike sales jump by 39.2 per cent to 39,348 units.
Scooter sales also accelerated in the last fiscal with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India maintaining its lead as the largest exporter in the segment with overseas sales of 36,011 units in the year followed by LML at 24,580 units.
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