Hero MotoCorp anticipates a big rebound in two-wheeler (2W) sales in rural India over the next four to eight quarters, driven by favourable factors such as a decent monsoon, rising crop prices, improved employment conditions, and increasing consumer confidence, its chief executive officer (CEO) Niranjan Gupta said on Wednesday. Amid tepid rural sales, he stated that there is a "strong case" for GST (goods and services tax) on entry-level two-wheelers, which are under 125 CC, to be moved down from 28 per cent to 18 per cent as they are used by "masses".
The Chinese company, Taian Chiran Machinery Company Ltd, had been reportedly marketing a copy of top selling Pulsar in different Latin American markets under Gulsar brand.
Pulsar 220, the fastest bike in India, faces a challenge from new models on speed & style.
The bike, a newer version of Discover, will begin sales August 11.
But will this dilute Bajaj's strong Indian identity that straddled the rural-urban markets and the Hindi-English divide quite easily?
High lending rates, fuel prices, higher input costs and labour trouble impact profitability.
Several companies, including Tata Motors and Bajaj Auto, which are setting up units in Uttarakhand, want to buy more land amid reports that plots comprising an area of 300 acres are still lying vacant in the key industrial estates of Haridwar.
The quadricycle would meet better emission and safety standards than the current three-wheeler does. And, it can give a better ride, particularly during the monsoon.
However, notable absentees from the expo will be Honda, Toyota, Ford, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover along with two-wheeler majors Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Co.
The bad news is that the company has reported an output constraint at its plants because some component vendors were unable to keep pace with the faster production cycle.
Bajaj Auto, BHEL, Infosys, ITC and RIL are among the 12 listed Indian companies which have figured in the latest list of 'Fabulous 50' of prestigious international magazine Forbes Asia.
India's largest two and three-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto rode away with more than three awards at the recently held BBC Wheels Awards 2003.
'Price competition is fierce, with many companies selling at zero margin.' 'This pricing pressure is challenging smaller companies and will likely drive some out of the market over time.'
After five years, we are still waiting for permission to sell our four-wheeler in the country: Rahul Bajaj.
Bajaj Auto, which commands a market share of 26.70 per cent following Hero Honda (the country's largest two-wheeler maker), has decided to launch a bike in the executive segment (125cc) in the second quarter of the current financial year.
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Scooters such as those from Kinetic Motors had become gearless by then and were no more family rides, but peppier individual modes of transport.
Among the Sensex firms, Bajaj Finance, Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finserv, Asian Paints, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Motors and JSW Steel were the major laggards.
Auto companies in the state are likely to go on an expansion drive buoyed by better-than anticipated sales over the past few quarters.
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors reported a decline in wholesales in September as the companies curtailed dispatches to dealers to reduce inventory build-up amid a decline in demand. Maruti Suzuki India reported a 4 per cent dip in total domestic passenger vehicle wholesales last month to 144,962 units compared to 150,812 units in the year-ago month. The auto major said sales of mini segment cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, grew marginally to 10,363 units against 10,351 units in September 2023.
While Bajaj will be responsible for developing and manufacturing the car, Renault-Nissan will brand, market and sell it for both the Indian and overseas markets.
The broader NSE Nifty ended 57 points, or 0.49 per cent, lower at 11,498.90 in its fourth straight day of losses.
In the years that the economy boomed and consumers had more money to spend, two-wheeler makers lured buyers with performance and presence. Now, the focus is back on fuel efficiency.
Say lower duties could enhance demand.
Prototype for ultra low-cost car not ready, says Renault; getting out five other vehicles is priority for next year.
Top gainers in the Sensex pack included Hero MotoCorp, Maruti, M&M, Bajaj Auto, HUL, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, ITC, HDFC and L&T, rising up to 7.51 per cent.
Operating margins have been the primary driver of corporate earnings in India in recent quarters, despite revenue growth suffering from weak consumer demand. Companies across sectors have reported a sharp improvement in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) margins over the past two years, benefiting from lower commodity and energy prices. Higher margins more than compensated for slower revenue growth, resulting in double-digit growth in net profit for five consecutive quarters.
Bajaj Finance was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 5 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, ITC, Bajaj Finserv, Tech Mahindra and Infosys. On the other hand, Maruti, Bajaj Auto, Nestle India, PowerGrid and Axis Bank were among the laggards.
Shareholders of the world's fourth largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Bajaj Auto, have long hoped that some of the cash on the company's balance sheet would be returned to them in some form.
Bajaj Finserv was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding over 2 per cent, followed by Infosys, Tech Mahindra, UltraTech Cement and IndusInd Bank. On the other hand, Dr Reddy's, Bajaj Auto, Sun Pharma, Asian Paints and NTPC were among the gainers. NSE Nifty lost 41.50 points to end at 15,680.
IndusInd Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising over 4 per cent, followed by HCL Tech, Bajaj Auto, Tech Mahindra, L&T and Kotak Bank.
Leading carmakers Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai on Thursday reported a dip in wholesales in July as companies reduced vehicle dispatches to dealers amid moderation in demand. Maruti Suzuki India said its total domestic passenger vehicle sales stood at 137,463 units in July against 152,126 units in the year-ago month, down 9.64 per cent.
Automobile manufacturers are likely to report strong numbers for the September quarter of Financial Year 2023-24 (Q2 FY24), riding on growth across segments and offset by a marginal drop in overall two-wheeler (2W) volumes. Higher average selling price (ASP) year-on-year (YoY), which was necessitated by price hikes taken by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and an improved product mix will also aid revenues and margins. Moreover, commodity prices are down on a YoY basis, leading to higher margins in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda).
The index could be vulnerable to a bigger fall given the present market dynamics.
From 30 Sensex shares, Bajaj Finserv jumped nearly 8 per cent while Bajaj Finance soared over 6 per cent. Maruti, Titan, Mahindra, Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, HCL Tech, Zomato, UltraTech Cement and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the other major gainers. Sun Pharma emerged as the only laggard.
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