Coronavirus and BS VI impacts two wheeler sales in February 2020

The two-wheeler OEMs in India are currently playing out their death overs with only 1 month left until the complete transition from BS IV to BS VI in April 2020. To make matters more difficult for team India, the outbreak of Coronavirus has impacted the imports of certain components for the new BS VI vehicles, furthering delaying the production and thus, the delivery to its customers.

It seems like we are heading for a last ball finish in the month of March with each of the 31 days getting accounted for at the production line and at the showrooms.

Bajaj Auto sells 146,876 two-wheelers in February 2020, down 21%
Bajaj Auto has sold 146,876 two-wheelers in the domestic market in the month of February 2020, which is a degrowth of 21 percent as compared to the February 2019 results, which was 186,523 units.

However, the exports in the same month for the company rose 15 percent to 163,346 units as compared to 141,462 units in February 2019. In the month of February 2020, Bajaj Auto sold a total of 310,222 two-wheelers, which is a YoY decline of 5 percent as compared to February 2019 – 327,985 units.

Going by the month on month (MoM) sales figures, Bajaj Auto’s sales dipped 23.84 percent with its domestic two-wheeler sales in January 2020 registered at 192,872 units. The MoM export figures also saw decline to 18.97 percent with the January 2020 export figures at 201,601 units.

TVS Motor sells 169,684 units in February 2020, down 26%
TVS has sold 169,684 two-wheelers in the domestic market in February 2020 as against 231,582 units in February 2019, a YoY fall of 26.72 percent. As for a MoM comparison, the sales rose 4.09 percent from 163,007 units in January 2020. The motorcycle segment comprised of 118,514 units, a YoY decline of 3.29 percent from February 2019 (122,551 units). Scooters comprised of 60,633 units, a YoY decline of 30.25 percent from 86,935 units in February 2019.

The company has reported a YoY growth of 23 percent in exports with 66,207 units in February 2020 from 54,029 units in February 2019. MoM also, TVS has reported a growth of 15.27 percent from 57,432 units in January 2020.

TVS claims that it is on track for reducing the dealer level stock of the BS IV vehicles and is confident of retailing it this month. It has also confirmed that the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to impact on supply of certain components for production of the BS VI vehicles.

Royal Enfield sells 61,188 units in February 2020, up 2%
In the domestic market, Royal Enfield has sold 61,188 units of motorcycles in the month of February 2020, a growth of 2 percent over February 2019 (60,066 units). Analysing the monthly sales figures, Royal Enfield opened its sales book for 2020 with 63,520 units in January 2020, registering a MoM decline of 3.67 percent.

Export-wise, Royal Enfield has seen a YoY drop of 8 percent from 2,564 units in February 2019 to 2,348 units in February 2020. However, Royal Enfield has reported a MoM growth of 5.38 percent from 2,228 units in January 2020 to 2,348 units in February 2020.

In February 2020, Royal Enfield saw a 1.44 percent growth in its total overall two-wheeler sales that sums up to 63,536 units (62,630 units, February 2019). MoM, however, it saw a decline of 3.36 percent with 65,748 units in January 2020.

In the international markets, Royal Enfield added new stores across Thailand, Brazil, Argentina, France and the UK, increasing its overall touchpoints to about 675 stores including 67 exclusive stores. The company claims that this network expansion, combined with sustained brand and marketing initiatives, have more than tripled its sales outside India.

Suzuki sells 58,644 units in February 2020, up 2.5%
Suzuki Motorcycle India, the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan clocked monthly domestic sale of 58,644 units during the month of February 2020 as compared to 57,174 units sold in February 2019, registering a YoY growth of 2.5 percent. In the month of January 2020, Suzuki sold 56,013 units leading to a MoM growth of 4.69 percent.

It has shipped out 9,317 units in February 2020, 10.18 percent higher as compared to February 2019  figure of 8,456 units but 0.76 percent lower as compared to January 2020 with 9,389 units.

It registered an overall YoY growth of 3.5 percent with monthly sales of 67,961 units (Domestic+Exports) in February 2020 as compared to 65,630 units sold in February last year. In the month of January 2020, Suzuki sold a total of 65,402 two-wheelers, thus giving a MoM growth of 3.9 percent.

Koichiro Hirao, managing director, Suzuki Motorcycle India said, “Inching closer to the end of the current fiscal year, we are happy with our sustained growth momentum. February was an eventful month for Suzuki Motorcycle India as we unveiled BS VI compliant product portfolio at the Auto Expo 2020 that received much love from the automobile enthusiasts. Furthermore, we commenced the sale of BS VI compliant Burgman Street from the dealerships. We are confident that the new product launches will propel our sales growth in the Indian market.”

Hero MotoCorp sells 480,196 units in February 2020, down 20%
Hero MotoCorp has registered a YoY decline in its growth for the month of February 2020 at 20.04 percent with 480,196 units from 600,616 units in February 2019. Compared to the previous month, Hero registered a MoM decline of 1.61 percent as it had sold 488,069 units then.

Export-wise, Hero MotoCorp has registered a YoY growth of 8.71 percent with 16,599 units in February 2019 to 18,046 units in February 2020. MoM as well, Hero saw a rise of 33.15 percent with 13,553 units in January 2020.

Overall, Hero MotoCorp sold a total of 498,242 units in February 2020 as against 617,215 units in the same month last year (YoY: -19.27% ) and 501,622 units in January 2020 (MoM: -0.67% ).

Hero has confirmed that the ongoing COVID-19 issue had adversely impacted production at the manufacturing facilities of Hero MotoCorp in India in the month of February. Since then, substantial progress has been made in developing alternate sources for procuring components. Meanwhile, the component makers in China, having restarted production, are also expected to resume normal supplies soon.

In February, Hero MotoCorp commenced the dispatches of five new BS VI products including some of its key products like the Splendor+, Super Splendor, Glamour and Passion Pro motorcycles and Maestro Edge 125 and Destini 125 scooters. It also showcased the new Xtreme 160R, which reiterates Hero MotoCorp’s unwavering focus on the premium segment. Further building the cult of XPulse 200, the Company also introduced the XPulse 200 Rally Kit.