Indian scooters are losing their appeal in the overseas markets, it seems. All players saw a decline in exports in the April-June quarter. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) was the only exception, though Bajaj Auto too reported some gains with insignificant numbers.
The overall export of scooters, says the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, declined by 20.80% to 5,558 units in the first quarter, from 7,018 units in the same quarter last fiscal. The biggest drop was in the 75cc-plus category that includes TVS Scooty Pep, Honda Activa and Dio, Bajaj Kristal and Kinetic 4S.
Led by a dismal show by Kinetic Motors, the segment saw a dip of 23.52% in the last quarter, exporting only 5,288 units, a far cry from 6,914 units sold a year ago. Kinetic Motors? 75cc-plus scooters were a total flop abroad; it sold just 64 units during the three months versus 1,162 units in the April-June quarter 2007.
Even sales of TVS Motors, the second largest Indian exporter of scooters, declined by 35.13% at 1,682 units vis-?-vis 2,593 units in the comparable period.
Though HMSI was a winner of the quarter, its sales were up just 3.3%?to 2,970 units from 2,875 units. Bajaj Auto?s sales in the overseas markets went up significantly to 572 units from a measly 4 units a year ago.
In the segment below the 75cc engine capacity, Kinetic Motors, which is present in the segment with 72cc Kine, registered a growth of 109.61% at 218 units against 104 units sold a year ago.
This poor show comes in the backdrop of overall export of two-wheelers from India going up by 24.66% to 3,61,306 units during the quarter from 2,89,829 units in the first quarter of 2007-08. Export of motorcycles grew by 35.9% to 2,44,866 units in the first three months against 1,80,161 units in the corresponding period last year.