This year’s delayed monsoon has not only affected the country crop season and the climate, but also the automotive industry. Motorcycle sales in the country have been hit hard by the weak monsoon, as domestic sales declined for the second consecutive month, in November.
Motorcycle sales, which are heavily influenced by customers’ sentiment during monsoon, fell by over 3.1 per cent due to the delay in rains. Despite the festive season falling in the month, motorcycle sales in October also saw a decline of over 8.8 per cent, breaking the 14-month long streak of positive growth. While the growth in the previous months might have been mediocre, it nevertheless contributed in driving up the growth for the manufacturers.
Retail sales in November as compared to those in October generally decrease by 35 to 40 per cent, owing to the additional sales during the festive season. This year however, the sales in November fell by around 45 to 48 per cent. Nevertheless, the overall growth in the sale of two-wheelers will stay positive thanks to the rapidly increasing demand of scooters.
