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Volume: X

January, 2008

 

home

 

Two-wheelers

 

Share Prices
 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and Market Share
 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Auto News Bulletin May 18 – May 24, 2007 by Murad Baig Associates

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78. Passenger Vehicle Sales Up 8% In Dec – January 09

Two wheelers sales record a mixed trend

In December 2007, the two wheelers segment recorded a mixed trend with an increase in the sales of scooters and scooterettes, and a decline in the sales of motorcycles. While, Hero Honda recorded a 4.9% decline in sales to 2,26,103 units during December 2007, Bajaj Auto witnessed a 15.05% drop in sales at 1,37,980 units. Similarly, the sales of TVS Motor Company fell in the domestic market by 26.21% to 38,767 units. However, the scooters and scooterettes’ segment reported a 9.8% increase in sales to 77,494 units in December 2007.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Line

 

 

Trends, Marketing Initiatives and Others

 

 

 

79. Customer Satisfaction Of Scooters Drops: TNS Study – December 19

Customer satisfaction levels for scooters in India drops marginally in 2007

According to a study by global market research and insight group TNS, the overall two-wheeler industry average Total Customer Satisfaction Study (STCS) score drops marginally by one point compared to 2006. The findings of the study state that the best selling models Eterno and Activa from Honda Motorcycles and Scooter India and the Scooty Pep Plus from TVS Motor ranked the highest in their respective segments. The trend across genders remained that of last year with women consistently rating the products higher on satisfaction than their male counterparts. The study said, Bajaj Auto scooter customers were much less satisfied than its motorcycle customers. The study took responses of more than 2000 scooter buyers towards the performance of more than 15 models in the key areas of sales satisfaction, product quality, scooter performance and design, after-sales service, brand image and cost-of-ownership.

 

Source: DNA

 

 

 

80. Hero Honda Drives Into Used-Bike Market – December 20

Hero Honda launches ‘Hero Honda SURE!’, the used two-wheeler trading business

Hero Honda, manufacturer of two-wheelers, forayed into the used two-wheeler trading business under the ‘Hero Honda SURE!’ brand in December 2007. The company started SURE! at its 40 dealerships across India on a pilot basis. It has introduced a 110-check point quality parameter to assess the condition of used two-wheelers to develop SURE! as a reliable place to buy, sell and exchange pre-owned two-wheelers in India. Hero Honda engineers re-condition these used vehicles with genuine spare parts and the company also offers warranty on different vehicles and free service benefits.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

81. TVS Banks On Slew Of Launches To Drive Sales – January 14

TVS Motors to launch three models and develop financing strategies to increase sales in 2008

Chennai-based TVS Motors plans to launch three models in 2008, besides the 125cc Flame, in the executive segment. It will launch the entry-level 100cc Star Sport at Rs 32,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), a scooter and a motorcycle in 2008. TVS Motors, which had reported a 40% decline in motorcycle sales to 3.90 lakh units during April-December, 2007 in the domestic market, is also working with leasing firms and financiers to improve funding options for buyers. 

 

Source: The Economic Times, The Economic Times

 

 

Product Launches

 

 

 

82. Honda Launches 'Aviator' Scooter – January 09

On 9 January, 2008, two wheeler manufacturer Honda Motorcycles Scooter India unveiled its new automatic scooter Aviator at the Auto Expo. Priced at Rs 39,675 (ex-showroom Delhi), the 102cc powered scooter will be available across the country from March 2008.

 

 

 

83. Hero Unveils Electric Bikes – January 09

On 9 January, 2008, Hero Exports, a subsidiary of Hero Cycles, launched two premium electric bike models Velociti and Maxi in Maharahstra.

 

 

 

Advertising Campaigns

 

 

 

84. Kinetic: Taking ‘Panga’ With Pink – December 28

TVC for Kinetic SYM Flyte features brand ambassador Bipasha Basu

The Kinetic-SYM association released the launch ad of Kinetic SYM Flyte featuring brand ambassador Bipasha Basu taking a direct pot shot on competitor brand TVS Scooty’s advertisement.

 

The ad, created by Publicis Ambience, shows women in a factory, dolled up in pink costumes, singing a jingle, “We are bubbly like our scooters, we are girly like our scooters.” The women wear pink makeup and climb onto homogeneous pink scooters in a robotic way.

 

In the next shot Bipasha Basu enters and she pulls out the electrical wires of the place, creating havoc. She then explains that today’s girls are not delicate and doll-like, but are smart and confident. As the women struggle to regain their balance, Bipasha Basu vrooms out of the crumbling factory on Flyte, saying that her vehicle is smart and confident, not bubbly. According to Shivpad Ray, assistant general manager, marketing, Kinetic, the Kinetic Flyte targets girls aged 18-23 and the ad reflects the change in the way girls in this age bracket think.

 

Source: Agencyfaqs