According to TVS Suzuki president, CP Raman, the September sales would have been much higher than 69,231 units but for the lesser number of working days. In September 1998, the company sold 61,430 vehicles and for the full year 1998-99 the sales was 7,03,258 units.

Raman attributed the first half performance to a strong growth in all product segments. Motorcycle sales has shown a growth of 31 per cent with the company posting a sales of 1,61,541 units while the scooter segment grew by 36 per cent with a sales of 61,700 units.

The moped segment has registered a growth of 15 per cent with a sale of 1,90,003 units during the first half in comparison over the previous year. The company is planning to launch a 70cc kick start moped targeted at the urban market in the last quarter of 1999. A super heavy duty variant of XL Super will also be launched in November in order to further consolidate its leadership position in the moped segment, Raman said.

The shifting of Scooty production from Hosur to Mysore plant would be completed by January 2000. He also said in a statement that the entire product range would comply with Year 2000 emission norms much ahead of April 1, 2000 which is the effective date.

Though the company has managed a 24 per cent growth in first half sales, it is unlikely that all of it would translate into profits fully as the Mysore plant is yet to be put to full use. Depreciation and the interest costs on account of it are likely to eat into the operating profit. The company's new product Spectra has not done as well as the company expected it to do and is now revamping the product so as to make it more suitable to customers requirements.