NEW DELHI: India has overtaken China to emerge as the world's biggest market for two-wheelers. A total of 17.7 million two-wheelers were sold here last year, that's over 48,000 units every day.
Neighbouring China trailed with 16.8 million units sold, according to officials from industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) as well as data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Besides rising incomes and growing infrastructure in rural areas, one big reason for the spurt in sales has been women commuters+ who like the ease of zipping in and out of chaotic city traffic on their gearless scooters. For Honda, which leads the scooter market, the share of women is at 35%.
The growth is not only being led by commuter vehicles, but even larger and expensive two-wheelers are being sold in good numbers. Royal Enfield, which sells bikes comfortably priced upwards of Rs 1 lakh, has seen sales grow by over 30% last year, and is now preparing to boost its production capacity.
"We have seen a massive demand in the past few years and are ramping up capacity," says Siddhartha Lal, CEO of Eicher Motors that sells the bikes. "India is a market where sales are only going to go up, and there is enormous potential here."
Premium bike makers (those selling products priced upwards of Rs 5 lakh) such as UK's Triumph Motorcycles and American Harley Davidson have also been upping their product portfolio and exposure in India+ .
Triumph, which entered India in 2013, has already sold over 4,000 bikes and now has portfolio of over 17 vehicles. "Triumph is the fastest-growing luxury motorcycle brand in India, and we hope to maintain the pace further," Vimal Sumbly, MD of Triumph in India, says
Read rest of the article here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...st-2-wheeler-market/articleshow/58555735.cms?
Neighbouring China trailed with 16.8 million units sold, according to officials from industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) as well as data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Besides rising incomes and growing infrastructure in rural areas, one big reason for the spurt in sales has been women commuters+ who like the ease of zipping in and out of chaotic city traffic on their gearless scooters. For Honda, which leads the scooter market, the share of women is at 35%.
The growth is not only being led by commuter vehicles, but even larger and expensive two-wheelers are being sold in good numbers. Royal Enfield, which sells bikes comfortably priced upwards of Rs 1 lakh, has seen sales grow by over 30% last year, and is now preparing to boost its production capacity.
"We have seen a massive demand in the past few years and are ramping up capacity," says Siddhartha Lal, CEO of Eicher Motors that sells the bikes. "India is a market where sales are only going to go up, and there is enormous potential here."
Premium bike makers (those selling products priced upwards of Rs 5 lakh) such as UK's Triumph Motorcycles and American Harley Davidson have also been upping their product portfolio and exposure in India+ .
Triumph, which entered India in 2013, has already sold over 4,000 bikes and now has portfolio of over 17 vehicles. "Triumph is the fastest-growing luxury motorcycle brand in India, and we hope to maintain the pace further," Vimal Sumbly, MD of Triumph in India, says
Read rest of the article here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...st-2-wheeler-market/articleshow/58555735.cms?

