New Delhi, Jan 27: A booming motorcycle market accelerated two-wheeler sales by 21 per cent in the domestic market during the first nine months of this financial year, even as scooter and mopeds continued to ride in negative territory. A total of 37.1 lakh two-wheelers were sold during April- December 2002-03 as against 30.6 lakh units in the same period last year, data compiled by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Association showed.

Motorcycles and step-thrus sales grew by 36.9 per cent year-on-year to 28 lakh units over 20 lakh units, due to growing sales of Hero Honda Motors, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company.

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Hero Honda, the world's largest motorcycle maker, posted a 24.3 per cent jump at 12.6 lakh units (10.1 lakh units during April-December 2001-02) while its closest rival Bajaj Auto posted a 29.5 per cent growth at 6.50 lakh units (5.02 lakh units).

The Chennai-based TVS Motor, whose sales have been soaring since the launch of 110cc motorcycle 'Victor', posted a robust 77.9 per cent growth to 5.35 lakh units (three lakh units).

The Indian subsidiary of Japanese two-wheeler major Yamaha witnessed a 52.1 per cent increase to 2.28 lakh units (1.50 units).

The Pune-based Kinetic Engineering posted a 26.5 per cent growth at 39,768 units (31,436 units).

The Kanpur-based LML, which rolled out its first deluxe commuter segment 110cc motorcycle 'Freedom', witnessed a rise of 104.1 per cent to 68,518 units (33,565 units).

Sales of high-powered motorcycle maker Royal Enfield went up by 19 per cent to 18,989 units (15,951 units).

Not withstanding the boom in motorcycle segment, scooter and scooterette sales fell by 8.68 per cent to 6.50 units (7.12 units) as market leader Bajaj Auto posted a 27.7 per cent decline at 2.62 lakh units (3.63 lakh units).
However, TVS Motor posted a 4.1 per cent rise at 1.20 lakh units (1.15 units) while sales of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese auto major Honda went up by 227.6 per cent to 1.05 lakh units (32,121 units).
Kinetic Motor's sales dipped 9.34 per cent to 75,470 units (83,250 units) but that of Kinetic Engineering surged 72.5 per cent to 25,418 units (14,729 units).
Scooter sales of LML also went down by 45.1 per cent to 54,542 units (99,517 units) but Majestic Auto witnessed an increase of 69.8 per cent to 7,095 units (4,178 units).

Moped sales slipped by 16.8 per cent to 2.54 lakh units (3.04 lakh units) as both Kinetic Engineering and Majestic Auto recorded decline of 43.3 and 18 per cent at 33,453 and 39,463 units respectively.
Moped sales of TVS also skidded by 7.86 per cent to 1.81 lakh units. Bureau Report