INDIA SALES: Top 10 Scooters in January 2017

Even as the scooter market saw a slower rate of decline (-6.07%) in January 2017, the Honda Activa continues to remain India’s bestselling scooter brand with total domestic sales of 196,996 units. However, it is yet to completely recover from the lingering impact of demonetisation in the economy, announced three months ago.

Activa sales registered a decline of 6.25 percent YoY last month. Nevertheless, compared to the high-selling scooter’s market performance in December 2016, when it had reported sales of 138,480 units, it has clearly recovered market demand substantially. On a month-on-month basis, the Activa has grown by a decent 42.26 percent over December.

The gap between the top two places, of course, continues to be a yawning one. In January, this amounts to a humungous 145,128 units!

At No. 2, TVS Motor’s consistent performer, the 110cc Jupiter scooter with 51,868 units, up by 21.08 percent YoY. In January 2016, the TVS Jupiter was the third bestselling scooter after losing the second spot to Hero MotoCorp’s Maestro brand. However, its consistent performance has now not only sealed the second rank for this model, it has also established itself as a reliable brand for TVS Motor Company.

Recovering in terms of sales, Suzuki’s 125cc Access 125, the conventional rival to the Honda Activa for nearly a decade, took third spot with total sales of 26,884 units in January. The Suzuki Access 125’s sales have grown by an impressive 85.64 percent YoY and 64.89 percent month-on-month. In December 2016, this model sold only 16,304 units.

Honda’s trendy scooter model Dio, which is popular among young collegians, also saw a notable recovery in sales. The model garnered sales of 21,763 units in January, thus bagging the rank of fourth bestselling scooter in the country. While the model has registered a YoY growth of 23.23 percent, it has clocked a recovery of 139.34 percent month-on-month. Honda Dio had reported sales of 9,093 units in December last year.

The Hero Maestro slipped to the fifth position with sales of 18,563 units in January. The scooter brand clocked sales of 48,002 units in January 2016, which clearly highlights a significant drop in its sales volumes YoY. The Hero Maestro volumes have declined by 61.33 percent YoY. Autocar Professional estimates that converting to BS IV compliance (from BS III norms) could be a possible reason behind the drastic adjustments in the reported numbers of this model.

A similar pattern was observed in the sales of Honda’s bestselling 125cc motorcycle model CB Shine too when in December 2016, HMSI had reported sales of only 20,000 units, almost one-third of its usual monthly volumes.

Hero’s 125cc Glamour, a stiff rival to the Honda CB Shine, is also being currently converted by the manufacturer to BS IV norms as this is clearly seen in the model’s January sales of nearly 38,000 units, half of its monthly average sale.

Hero’s family scooter, 110cc Duet now holds the sixth rank in the top 10 bestselling scooters’ list. The model sold 8,464 units in January, down by a dramatic 65.08 percent YoY.

Honda’s steady seller, the Aviator continues to hold on to its typical monthly volume. The model, positioned as a scooter for urban markets, sold 8,000 units in January, marginally down by 2.24 percent YoY.

Hero’s Pleasure held the eighth rank as it sold 7,922 units last month. The model, however, was down by 45.02 percent YoY.

TVS Motor’s Scooty Pep+ becomes the ninth bestselling automatic scooter with sales of 7,130 units. Yamaha’s able performer, the 113cc Fascino, which has fetched commendable volumes to the company consistently throughout the last year, has sold only 4,307 units in January. It is understood that the model has been under the transition to BS IV emission norms in the recent past.

Growth in the scooter segment is expected to see normalcy in the coming months.