Bajaj Auto posts flat PAT in Q1, new Discover coming next month

Bajaj Auto has recorded profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 740 crore in its Q1 (April-June 2014) for this fiscal, flat growth as compared to Rs 738 crore recorded in the year-earlier quarter. In terms of numbers, the company sold 988,430 units as compared to 979,275 units in the year earlier period.

The company sold 875,000 motorcycles in both the domestic and export markets. In the domestic market, Q1 sales comprised 490,841 units. The Pulsar and Avenger accounted for 173,000, up 18 percent over the year-earlier quarter. Sales of the Platina (largely sold in smaller towns and rural areas) were up 15 percent. Sales of the Discover commuter bike lost out to competition in the form of Honda’s CB Shine and Dream series. A new premium Discover is all set to be launched next month. It is believed to displace between 125cc and 150cc and will feature Bajaj’s proven DTS-I engine technology.

In the commercial vehicle segment, where the company says it has a 46 percent market share, Bajaj Auto saw total sales of 113,000 units in Q1 FY2015.

On the export front, the company hopes to improve its share with exports commencing to Egypt in this month. In Q1, it shipped 384,159 vehicles recording revenues of Rs 2,251 core, which the company says are its highest yet.

Photograph: Bajaj Discover 125. New Discover will be a top-of-the-line variant with a new engine.