The growth rate of the scooter segment of the Indian two-wheeler market has doubled over the first two months of the current fiscal, when compared with that of motorcycles. Traditionally, the growth rate of scooters and motorcycles has been the same.

The growth of scooter sales last fiscal was 26 % compared to 27 % for motorcycles, but the current growth rate for scooters at 49 %, is more than double that of motorcycles, which have a grown at a rate of 21 %.

Atul Gupta, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited -

In the first two months we are seeing scooters growing faster than bikes and this is due to a couple of factors. Not only is the popularity of scooters amongst women fuelling the growth, scooters are also penetrating into the younger age group and it not just the women and 35 plus age group phenomenon. The most important group that is adding to the numbers is the 20-25 plus age group, a typically bike preferring segment. The other important factor is that scooters are now penetrating into the eastern market where it was virtually absent for all these years.

The growth over motorcycles for scooters is especially staggering considering that the majority of the two-wheeler manufacturers have been facing production shortages due to a lack of supply of components.

The scooter segment in India, which had almost been killed by motorcycles towards the end of the 90′s had been given a major booster shot with the arrival of Honda’s Activa in 2001. The segment is now taking major strides forward, with every two-wheeler manufacturer wanting a sharing of the pie, which has caused the segment to hit a purple patch, with demand outgrowing supply.

Naresh Rattan, Vice-President, Marketing and Sales, Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India -

Until the mid 90s, contribution from scooters was more than motorcycles and then it started to sharply decline as better bikes started flooding the market. But this trend has reversed with gearless scooters coming into the market, which also provide the same mileage and maintenance cost as that of a motorcycle. HMSI, which has a 55:45 split between scooters and motorcycles, believes that the scooter segment has earned a respectable position in the two-wheeler market and it will reach its full potential but will not replace the bike market. From the current share of nearly 15% of the total two wheeler market, it will soon reach up to 20%.

The scooter segment in India is set for even more growth in the years to come with rising congestion in cities and a higher number of female users and with almost every manufacturer having a minimum of one offering in the segment, it looks as if the manufacturers will be fighting hard with one another in order to stay ahead of the game with their products.

Source – DNA India