Bajaj pips Hero Honda in June sales growth

Hero Honda, has reported 23 per cent growth in total sales volume at 2.79 lakh in the last month compared with 2.26 lakh units in June 2005.

For the quarter ending June 2006, the company's cumulative sales stood at 8.33 lakh units, recording a growth of 21 per cent compared with the same period last year. During the corresponding period last financial year, the company had sold 6.86 lakh units.

In growth terms, rival two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto managed to outpace Hero Honda by recording a growth of 33 per cent at 1.88 lakh units during the last month. In June 2005, the figure stood at 1.41 lakh units.

In the motorcycle segment, Bajaj Auto reported 40 per cent growth during the month under review with total volume of 1.84 lakh units. In the year-ago period, he figure stood at 1.31 lakh.

In exports, Bajaj Auto reported 116 per cent jump with volumes at 34,369 units in June 2006, as against 15,946 in June 2005.  The company's exports include two- and three-wheelers.

In the first quarter of this fiscal, Bajaj's overall two-wheeler sales grew by 28 per cent to 5.79 lakh units, while exports grew by 95 per cent to 98,263 units.

TVS Motor has, meanwhile, reported 17 per cent rise in total two-wheeler sales in June 2006 at 1.27 lakh units, compared with 1.08 lakh in the same month last year.

The motorcycle sales in the month stood at 74,683 units, up 24 per cent from 60,170 sold in June 2005. This is the third successive month in the current financial year when TVS's motorcycle sales rose by more than 20 per cent, a company statement said.

The company's exports were at the highest ever at 10,220 units, up 36 per cent compared with figures in June last year.

While the country's top three carmakers, Maruti Udyog, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors are yet to report their June sales numbers, Honda Siel Cars India reported eight per cent growth in the cumulative domestic sales for the first quarter, April-June 2006.

In volume terms, the cumulative domestic sales for the quarter have grown to 11,777 units during the first quarter of this year as against 10,909 in the year-ago quarter. The company's domestic sales in June 2006 was 3,074 units.

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