Bajaj Auto sees bike sales decline in India and overseas in October

Bajaj Auto, which launched the quarter-litre Pulsar twins, the Pulsar N250 and F250, on October 28, has announced its October and cumulative year-to-date sales numbers.

With the domestic two-wheeler market continuing to show iffy sales trends, the Pune-based motorcycle manufacturer sold a total of 198,738 bikes in October 2021, down a substantial 26% year on year (October 2020: 268,631). As is known, demand for entry level commuter motorcycles is yet to pick up steam in India.

Also, continually rising and wallet-burning prices of petrol are also proving to be a spoilsport. October 2021 saw the price of petrol rise by Rs 7.55 a litre in Mumbai or by 6.99% in just 31 days. The price-sensitive entry-level commuter market is the first to be affected by fuel prices rises and like other OEMs, Bajaj Auto too is feeling the heat.  The executive motorcycle segment though remains relatively unaffected.   

Exports numbers, at 1,92,565 units and just 6,173 units less than the domestic market total, constituted a 5% YoY decline for the company (October 2020: 201,659). Combine domestic and export sales and what you get is a total of 391,303 units for October 2021, down 17% YoY (October 2020: 470,290).

In terms of sales for the first seven months of the ongoing fiscal year (April-October 2021), Bajaj Auto has sold a total of 10,29,438 units in the domestic market, up 2% (April-October 2020:  10,04,806). On the export front, the numbers are robust: 12,91,085, up 56% YoY (April-October 2020: 829,878). Cumulative domestic and export sales are 23,20,523 units, up 26% YoY ((April-October 2020: 18,34,684).