After registering healthy 24% growth in April-October 2016, scooter sales in India were handed a bouncer in November, largely due to the cash crunch as a result of demonetisation. Last month saw scooter sales in India decline for the first time in 44 months with total sales of 388,692 units, down 1.85% YoY.
For the country’s best-selling scooters in November 2016, it was no surprise as the popular Honda Activa topped the charts with sales of 180,811 units. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s (HMSI) flagship was however beaten by the Hero Splendor as the best-selling two-wheeler in November.
TVS Jupiter reported the least decline in sales November with sales of 54,838 units, down 13% month-on-month compared to 63,014 units it sold in October. The success of the 110cc Jupiter was possible as TVS Motor Co was the sole OEM from the big four to buck the trend of declining sales numbers in November.
It is understood that, besides the Jupiter, TVS Motor could have benefited by a second successful scooter brand that otherwise could have contributed to an additional monthly volume of more than 20,000 units to surpass Hero MotoCorp and become the second largest player in the segment.
Meanwhile, Hero MotoCorp’s Maestro was at the third position in November despite sales falling by 42% to 26,320 units.
The Honda Dio, targeted mainly at the urban market, has fallen to the bottom half of the table for the first time in six months. It was in May 2016 the 110cc scooter was placed at seventh place. It was the same story in November 2016 as it sold 13,383 units to settle for the seventh spot.
Also read: Top 10 Two-wheelers in November 2016
The void in the mid-table created due to Honda Dio’s fall was occupied by the Suzuki Access and the Hero Duet. While Suzuki’s 125cc scooter moved up a place to the fourth place with sales of 24,825 units, Hero’s 110cc Duet managed to climb two places to the fifth place with sales of 16,741 units.
Related: Top 10 Motorcycles in November 2016
The bottom third of the Top 10 best-selling scooters in November remained the same as in the previous month. Yamaha’s Fascino sold 13,019 units for the eighth spot, followed by Hero Pleasure which sold 10,349 units. The list was completed with TVS Scooty Pep+ sitting at the bottom of the table with sales of 7,292 units in November.
Read more: Top 10 Scooters in October 2016
Sugato Sen, deputy director general of SIAM, told Autocar Professional that the scooter segment has been impacted by the demonetisation announcement of the Centre on November 8. However, he is bullish of sales picking up after December 30 when the negative effect of demonetisation starts wearing off as indicated by the government.
Recommended:
- Top 10 Passenger Vehicles in November 2016