Hero MotoCorp, India’s largest two-wheeler company, has recorded sales of more than two million units in Q2 FY2017-18. According to the data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Pawan Munjal-led two-wheeler major has registered total sales (including export shipments) of 2,022,805 units during July-September 2017, up around 11 percent YoY.

A company press release claims that this is the first time globally that any two-wheeler company has crossed the 2 million sales mark in any quarter. The total sales can be split into domestic sales of 1,976,270 units and export shipments comprising sales of 46,535 units during the second quarter of the ongoing fiscal.

Notably, the company has sold more than 700,000 units in September 2017 for the first time. Hero’s sales are clearly driven by the demand for its top 2 bestselling motorcycles – Splendor and HF Deluxe range.

The company’s H1 FY2018 domestic sales stand at 3,787,613 units, points out the SIAM data. However, the official communication from Hero MotoCorp claims that it has already surpassed the four million unit sales in the current fiscal, which includes exports and the dispatches made in the first 12 days of October 2017.

Commenting on this performance, Ashok Bhasin, Head of Sales, Marketing and Customer Care, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Clocking two million sales in a quarter is highly gratifying and it’s a moment of great pride for us. This landmark achievement in sales has been possible due to an excellent team effort of everyone at Hero and all our associates.”

“We have also already crossed four million units in despatch sales in a little over six months in the current fiscal (starting from April till the first week of October). We will look to building on this going forward. Our sales performance this year is a testimony to our intent and determination on further consolidating our very strong and consistent market leadership in the country. Our brand-specific regional strategy, innovative consumer-engagement programmes, and an overall integrated 360 degree ‘Go-To-Market’ approach has been immensely successful in driving this growth,” he added.

The senior company official is confident that Hero MotoCorp will post very strong double-digit growth during this year’s festive season.

Hero MotoCorp, which recently surpassed 75 million units in cumulative sales since its inception, is now seen leveraging its association with the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017.

“Our overall strategy for the festive season has been integrated with the customer activation initiatives for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Under this strategy, we have rolled out innovative consumer engagement programmes like the Trophy Tour and have reached out to our targeted consumer groups through the print, television, digital and social media platforms,” Bhasin stated.

Honda rides close to Hero
Hero MotoCorp’s arch-rival, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), continues to stay close with the industry leader. Honda has reported total sales of 1,768,705 units (including exports) during the July – September period, trailing behind Hero by only 254,100 units.

While Honda’s domestic sales stood at 1,668,019 units, its export shipments fetched 100,686 units during Q2 FY2018.

For the H1 FY2018 period, Honda’s domestic sales stand at more than three million units, at 3,146,497 units, trailing Hero MotoCorp by 641,116 units.