Despite the de-growth in sales over the 2014-15 financial year, Bajaj Auto posted the highest turnover along with the second highest profit (before tax) ever in the company’s history.
Bajaj Auto was heavily criticised last year for not having the right approach towards bringing products to the market with sales plummeting by the day in the commuter space, which otherwise forms the bulk for most two-wheeler manufacturers. That said, the automaker now released its sales and profit figures for the 2014-15 financial year and against all odds Bajaj Auto managed to record the highest turnover amounting to Rs. 22,194 crores while also posting its highest ever exports of 1.81 million units and second highest profit (before tax) of Rs. 4425 crores.
Bajaj Auto sold a total of 3.3 million motorcycles in the previous fiscal year. The bike maker’s Pulsar and Avenger premium products almost touched the million mark globally clocking a total of 9,32,000 units. Out of which 6,31,000 units were sold in the domestic market, gaining a jump of 5 percent and 2,50,000 units sold internationally growing by 11 percent. The Pulsar series are also the highly profitable models for the company contributing over 36 percent to Bajaj’s domestic motorcycle sales. With the newly launched RS 200, AS 200 and AS 150 Pulsars, the Pune based automaker is aiming to gain further market share keeping its pole position in the premium motorcycle space intact.
Coming to the commuter offerings, Bajaj Auto’s Discover brand while not doing the best in the domestic market still managed to retail over 8,14,000 units globally with 2,61,000 units sold overseas, a growth of around 37 percent. The new Bajaj Platina and the recently launched CT100 gained acceptance as well selling over 1.47 million units worldwide. The automaker sold over 5,18,000 units in the domestic market with sales growing by 12 percent.
Bajaj Auto’s Austrian partner KTM witnessed highly impressive growth last fiscal with sales doubled in the local market clocking over 22,000 units and recorded an increase of 112 percent with over 51,000 units sold in the international market. The company also maintained its pole position in exports with over 1.5 million motorcycles and 2.84 lakh three-wheelers shipped out of the country, contributing 46 percent to the company’s net sales. The manufacturer has been rampantly expanding its presence internationally with the Discover and Pulsar bikes; whereas the Boxer continues to be the number one brand in East Africa and Nigeria. Bajaj currently commands presence in over 62 countries and enjoys the top spot in 20 countries.
