The festive season and the healthy monsoon have been kind to the Indian two-wheeler industry. September has been one of the best months for the two-wheeler manufacturers in this year, and there have been a few surprises when it comes to the biggest gainers and losers. Here is the list of the scooters which took full advantage of the opportunities in September and the ones who missed the bus.
Winners
Suzuki Let’s
Not long ago, the Suzuki Let’s occupied a position in the other end of this list. Now though, this 110cc scooter has made a giant leap to the top of the Winners section with a 97 per cent increase in sales numbers. Suzuki sold 2,106 units of the Let’s in the last month as compared to 1,065 units in August. This sudden increase in demand can be attributed to the discounts of up to Rs 3,000 served by dealerships in an attempt to clear stocks of the scooter. Apart from the discount, dealers are also trying to lure customers with free accessories and other offers.
TVS Jupiter
The TVS Jupiter has cemented its position as the second largest selling scooter in India, thanks to the 60,943 new customers in September. This number is 18 per cent more than the August sales figures, which stood at 51,728 units. The additional footfalls in the festive season, discounts and the special exchange offers seem to have worked their magic in helping TVS achieve this feat. Besides, the launch of the Jupiter MillionR edition with the front disc brake has also helped to draw in customers looking for a premium 110cc scooter.
Yamaha Fascino
The Yamaha Fascino was the first premium 110cc scooter in the Indian market. While it no longer is the top-selling scooter in Yamaha’s portfolio (this crown now lies with the Ray), the 17 per cent increase in sales numbers is clear indicator that it still enjoys a good demand. The Fascino’s positioning as a lifestyle vehicle makes it a rival to the Vespa, though the smaller capacity and the pricing strategy have worked in its favour. Yamaha sold 22,186 units of the Fascino in the last month as compared to 18,876 units in August.
Losers
TVS Wego
While the TVS Jupiter’s popularity continues to grow, the Wego has been taking massive hits. Sales of the Wego dropped from 4,746 units in August to 2,902 units in September, translating into a decline of 38 per cent. The TVS Wego, which is the most premium offering in the company’s scooter line-up, has failed to make an impact as customers prefer to opt for the more affordable Jupiter. The mediocre sales had led to the company discontinuing a few variants of the Wego, and it is now available in a single variant.
Hero Duet
After getting off to a fantastic start, the demand for the Hero Duet took a hit last month. Sales dropped from 28,364 units in August to 25,168 units in September, a decline of 11 per cent. However, this decline could also be a result of the company commencing export of the 110cc scooter to countries like Nepal, Turkey and Bahamas. We expect the Duet to bounce back in the next couple of months.
TVS Scooty Zest
Post the initial frenzy of the Himalayan Highs campaign, the demand for TVS Scooty Zest has slowly been waning month after month. TVS sold 5,280 units of the Scooty Zest in the last month, 17 per cent less than what it had managed in August. Even the TVS Scooty Pep Plus experienced a 14 per cent drop in demand.
