Turnover, however, rose by 10 per cent to Rs 2,075.79 crore from Rs 1,885.42 crore, a company release said. During the period under review, the company's production for two- and three-wheelers declined by 4 per cent to 6,40,151 units (including CKD kits) while the sales volume improved by 1 per cent to 6,38,917 units, the release said.

Segment-wise, the company's Jap motorcycles grew by 103.7 per cent to 2,02,154 units followed by ungeared scooter growing by 30.3 per cent to 42,097 units. The geared scooters and step-thrus declined by 29 per cent and 8 per cent to 2,40,379 units and 67,019 units respectively for the first half under review, the release said.

In the ungeared scooters market, the company plans to increase the production of its newly introduced Saffire, 92 cc automatic 4-stroke scooter from 3,000 units per month to 5,000 units per month by the end of this year.

In the geared scooters market, the company will shortly launch a variant of the existing two-stroke scooter and two new four-stroke scooters in January 2001. The company has received encouraging response to the four-stroke M-80 launched in Pune market during September 2000 and plans to progressively launch in other markets from November 2000.

In the motorcycle segment, the company plans to launch the Eliminator in November 2000 and the Acer in February 2001. It is also upgrading the Caliber with improved braking and comfort, to be introduced from October 2000. The company's CNG three wheeler has met with an excellent response and it plans to launch RE 4 stroke LPG three wheeler in March 2001.

The company last week signed an agreement, which will last upto March 2004, providing an increase in the emouluments of workers by Rs 2,050 per month and is linked to an increase in productivity. It has also restored a six day week at the company's Akurdi plant after 2000 of its employees opted for voluntary retirement scheme. The compensation payable under the scheme works out to Rs 81.22 crore, one-third of which has been charged in the second quarter and the balance amount will be charged in the subsequent two quarters, the release said.