2019 September Sales Report: Suzuki Bucks The Trend While Bajaj, TVS, RE Sales Decline

Domestic sales have plummeted compared to last year for most manufacturers, but this has been slightly offset by an increase in exports.

• Bajaj and TVS are the worst hit, with 35 per cent and 33 per cent decline in domestic sales respectively.
• Suzuki is the only manufacturer to register domestic and overall growth.
• Poor performance is attributed to the transition from BS4 to BS6.

The sales figures for September 2019 make for bleak reading, with most manufacturers showing a massive year-on-year decline in sales compared to 2018. Here are the numbers:

Bajaj

Bajaj was the worst hit of all the manufacturers when it comes to domestic sales, registering September sales of 1,77,348 compared to 2,73,029 in the same month last year. This means a massive drop of 35 per cent. On a more positive note, exports have gone up by 1 per cent to 1,59,382 as compared to 1,57,910 in September last year. As a result, overall sales are down by 22 per cent compared to September 2018. Sadly, commercial vehicle (CV) sales for Bajaj have also seen a drop in both domestic as well as export markets, meaning that on the whole (motorcycles + CVs), Bajaj has experienced a 20 per cent drop in sales. The price hike for the Dominar 400 certainly hasn’t helped Bajaj’s sales figures, but the festive season offers should provide some respite.

TVS

TVS Motors also showed a similar trend, with a 33 per cent decrease in domestic sales, down to 2,43,163 in September 2019 from 3,61,097 in September 2018. Like Bajaj, TVS’ exports have gone up, rising to 57,746 compared to 49,560 from last year. However, since exports account for a much smaller portion of TVS’ sales when compared to Bajaj, the Hosur-based manufacturer has seen an overall drop in two-wheeler sales of 27 per cent.

Royal Enfield

Royal Enfield had mixed fortunes in the month of September. The manufacturer struggled in the domestic market, experiencing a 22 per cent drop in sales for the month of September, as it sold 54,858 motorcycles compared to 70,065 in the same period last year. However, the export sales saw a massive growth of 191 per cent, with 4,642 bikes sold last month compared to just 1,597 sold in September 2018. The Interceptor and Continental GT 650 twins have a lot to do with this increase in export sales. Even so, overall RE sales declined by 17 per cent compared to September last year. Remedial measures are being taken by the manufacturer, such as the upcoming introduction of a cheaper, base-spec Thunderbird 350. 

Suzuki

Suzuki has been the standout performer in September, being the only manufacturer to show an overall growth in sales. Moreover, Suzuki registered its most successful month ever in terms of domestic sales, managing to move 63,382 units in September this year compared to 63,140 last year. This works out to a year-on-year growth of 1.5 per cent. Export figures were also up from 8,994 to 10,276 and so Suzuki saw an overall growth of 2.11 per cent. The manufacturer’s range consists of many products that have been specifically developed for India, and these models are also frequently updated to keep them relevant. This approach has paid off in terms of sales figures, with Suzuki managing to buck the trend and register growth (even if marginal) while the rest of the industry is in the doldrums. The recently introduced Gixxer 250 will have also helped boost sales figures.