Which is the largest-selling two-wheeler in the country: Hero Honda's Splendor Plus or Bajaj Auto's CT 100? Both companies are claiming that their model is the bestseller in the world's second largest two-wheeler market.
Bajaj Auto sources said in November the CT 100 ended Splendor's long reign at the top. According to them, 104,000 CT 100s were sold in the month against 97,600 Splendors.
Confirming the CT 100 numbers, Bajaj Auto vice-president (marketing and business development) R L Ravichandran said: "We have seen a huge growth in CT 100 sales ever since it was launched in July this year. For a while, we have been projecting that sales will soon cross 100,000."
Hero Honda executive director (business operations) Atul Sobti rubbished the claim and said the Splendor continued to top the charts, though he refused to give a model-wise break up for November sales. "It is not true that the sales of CT 100 have overtaken that of the Splendor," he said.
Since the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers does not mention the sales of individual models in its monthly statistics, it is difficult to make an independent assessment of the claims.
Hero Honda had introduced Splendor in 1994. It soon went on to become the largest-selling two-wheeler in the country, displacing Bajaj's Chetak scooter. The motorcycle was relaunched as Splendor Plus in 2003.
After introducing the CT 100 in July, Bajaj Auto came out with a stylised version of the motorcycle, CT 100 Style, in September for an additional price of Rs 500. The new version has been launched in southern states and Maharashtra.
Although the CT 100 is Bajaj Auto's largest-selling model, the company is yet to launch a promotional campaign in the electronic media.
Sources indicated that a campaign in south India could be launched as early as next week, while the north would have to wait till next month.
