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Home  » Business » What the two wheeler industry wants from Budget

What the two wheeler industry wants from Budget

By Capital Market
June 29, 2009 18:13 IST
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Current Status

The Indian two wheeler industry is current bright spot in the automobile industry.  After worst recession in calendar year 2008, the two-wheeler industry bounced back quickly, consistently recording y-o-y growth from February 2009 onwards.

The two-wheeler industry has consistently improved on sequential basis as well as y-o-y basis after falling down to levels of 5,52,058 two wheelers sold in December 2008 to 808075 two wheelers in May 2009.

In FY09, the total 2-wheeler sales grew by 5 per cent from 8068991 vehicles in FY08 to 8,44,1844 vehicles in FY09.

The growth in two wheelers were triggered by couple of factors such as 4 per cent excise duty cut announced in stimulus package in December 2008, fuel price reduction of Rs 5 per litre in petrol and Rs 2 per litre in diesel as well as the unaffected and untapped demand from the rural market.

In case of 3 wheeler industry, the domestic sales have perked up from low of 19048 vehicles in Dec 2008 to 30036 vehicles in May 2009 post excise duty cut of 4%. However, 3-wheeler industry continues to struggle with lack of credit as well as Light commercial vehicles eating into its marketshare especially in goods carrier segment. Nevertheless, Bajaj Auto is launching 2 three wheelers in FY10 – one in goods carrier and other in passenger carrier.

Two wheelers: Sales at a glance

Details

Apr 2009 - May 2010

Apr 2008 - May 2009

Var %

Scooter/Scooterettee

209031

182293

14.67

Motor Cycles/Steps -Through

1282316

1172775

9.34

Mopeds

83658

69570

20.25

Electric Two Wheelers

1332

2390

-44.27

Grand Total

1576337

1427028

10.46

 Source: SIAM

Three wheelers: Sales at a glance

Details

Apr 2009 - May 2010

Apr 2008 - May 2009

Var %

Passenger Carriers

61892

59495

4.03

Goods Carriers

12339

15815

-21.98

Grand Total

74231

75310

-1.43

Source: SIAM

Industry expectations

  • Retain the existing excise duty on 2 & 3 wheeler at 8%.
  • Release a measure to boost retail lending in big way in PSU banks
  • Abolish fringe benefit tax.
  • Analysts/market expectations
  • Reduce interest rates on auto loans and credit availability on 2 wheeler and 3 wheeler loans. The lack of finance and high interest rates limits the growth in both the 2 wheeler and 3 wheeler industry.
  • Retain the existing excise duty on 2 & 3 wheeler at 8%. The reduction in the excise duty to 8% enabled the revival of the 2 & 3 wheeler sales. Thus retention of the same will provide support for 2 & 3 wheeler industry to continue to grow.

Companies to watch

Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda, TVS, Mahindra & Mahindra

Outlook

Currently, the 2 wheeler industry is thriving thanks to excise duty cut and conscious effort of players to focus on the untapped unaffected rural demand and premium bike segment. In contrast, 3 wheeler industry's growth is still muted despite revival from the downtrend.

A focus on credit availability to 2 & 3 wheeler loans and lowering of interest rates could boost their sales especially the 3 wheeler industry's. If the customs duty on steel, aluminium etc is raised, then it will be negative for the auto industry in general and 2 & 3 wheelers in particular.

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