Bajaj Auto pips TVS Motors, regains no.3 spot after 2 years

Pune-based two and three-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto has regained the number 3 spot, displacing Chennai-based TVS Motors after a gap of nearly 24 months.

Powered by new model launches in recent months — such as Avenger and V15 (promoted by INS Vikrant) — Bajaj's all-motorcycle line-up beat TVS Motors in April sales, which has motorcycles, scooters and mopeds in its line-up.

Bajaj Auto clocked two-wheeler sales of 2,00,433 units in domestic sales, against 1,97,692 units sold by TVS Motors last month, as per the sales figures disclosed by the two companies.

May 2014 was the last month when Bajaj Auto had an edge over TVS Motors, selling 1,76,277 units as against TVS’s 1,74,219 units. TVS overtook Bajaj Auto in June 2014.

The maker of performance bikes under the Pulsar brand, Bajaj Auto had to increase production after two successive launches. Models such as the Avenger (3 variants) and V15 have provided incremental sales of nearly 50,000 units per month, pushing Bajaj's domestic sales to beyond two lakh units for the first time in six months.

Two other products of Bajaj Auto — CT100 and CT 100B — which are in the bread and butter economy segment have also done well.

At 2,00,433 units, Bajaj Auto's domestic April sales jumped 25% as against 1,60,554 units sold in the same month last year. The company is not present in the fast-growing scooter segment whereas each of its competitors except Royal Enfield has scooter products.

Meanwhile, TVS Motors recorded a growth of 22% in total two-wheeler volumes in domestic market at 1,97,692 units as against 1,62,516 units sold in the same month last year. The company’s scooter sales recorded a growth of 28% on the back of strong demand for the hotly-promoted Jupiter 110cc automatic scooter.

Bajaj Auto may be able to maintain this lead given its continued efforts at raising production. However, demand for scooter and the new motorcycle Victor may provide TVS an edge over Bajaj in the coming months.

TVS Motor Company

Bajaj Auto Limited