October is a month that the Indian automotive industry eagerly looks forward to and this year has been no different. The festive season and the healthy monsoon bring a positive sentiment among buyers, and this year the two-wheeler sales have reached a new high. However, there has been big change when it comes to the biggest winners and losers and here is our analysis -
Winners
Mahindra Centuro
Mahindra has so far been unsuccessful in making a dent in the commuter motorcycle segment. The Centuro might have been radical in its own right, but failed to catch the attention of the masses. Last month though, Mahindra sold 2,047 units of the Centuro as compared to 1,019 units in September, translating into a 100 per cent increase. Customer schemes involving discounts and free accessories as well as the launch of a special edition have pushed the Mahindra Centuro to the top of this list.
Honda CB Hornet 160R
The introduction of a special edition Honda CB Hornet 160R and a students' discount has boosted the demand for this premium commuter. Despite facing production constraints, the demand for the Honda CB Hornet 160R isn’t witnessing any signs of slowing down. Sales went up by 38 per cent in the last month, from 6,364 units in September to 8,785 units in October. Dealers in major cities are still claiming a 45 day to two month waiting period for the the CB Hornet 160R, though Honda has been working towards reducing this by realigning production to meet the demand.
TVS Sport
The TVS Sport has always raked consistent sales, though last month the numbers went up by 15 per cent, from 23,090 units in September to 26,722 units. TVS recently launched a special finance scheme with a low down payment for this entry-level commuter. Besides, word of mouth about the motorcycle’s efficiency and introduction of new paint schemes have also helped draw more customers.
Losers:
TVS Phoenix
While the rest of TVS line-up has been performing consistently, sales of the Phoenix have taken a big hit. The company sold only 550 units of the 125cc commuter last month as opposed to the 1,345 units it had managed in September. This 59 per cent drop in demand could be attributed to the lack of recent updates or special schemes for the motorcycle.
Hero Achiever
After witnessing a spike post the launch of new Achiever 150 iSmart, sales of the motorcycle have tanked by 35 per cent, from 4,070 units in September to 2,609 units in October. After the initial hike sales have now lost momentum, and taking into account the motorcycle’s previous sales record, we expect numbers to stay in this range.
Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTSi
The Pulsar 180 DTS-i continues with its downfall for the second consecutive month. Sales dropped from 8,999 units in September to 6,457 units in the last month, a 28 per cent decline. Earlier this month, Bajaj launched a new rear disc brake variant of the Pulsar 180 DTS-i with new paint scheme which should shake things up a bit.
