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| Thursday, 3 June 2004 |
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Popular among younger generation here: Indian motor-cycles record 95% sales growth in 2003 by Shirajiv Sirimane Indian manufactured motorcycles which entered the Sri Lankan market recorded a nearly 95 percent sales growth last year, compared to over 400 per cent the previous year. Chinese manufactured motorcycles too are in demand while the sale of Japanese motor cycles have dropped drastically. Due to the high price of Japanese bikes the number of brand new motorcycles entering the local market is very low. In the recent past 90 per cent of motor-cycle imports from Japan have been reconditioned. According to Managing Director Eden Enterprises Kurunegala, importers of new motor-cycles from India and China, Neil Mendis, the main reason for the Chinese bikes to be in demand is their price and high fuel efficiency. "The Chinese bikes are at least three times cheaper than the Japanese bikes and this is one reason for more customers to go for Chinese products," he said. The main edge China has over other countries is its mass production. "There are motor-cycle manufacturing plants everywhere and in one province there are over 230 manufacturing plants. This has resulted in competition and low prices," he said. He said in contrast the style and mass advertising had made Indian bikes more popular. "There are cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar who are prominently featured in advertisements and even Sri Lankan cricketers are portrayed," he said. This has created an awareness and keener interest for Indian bikes. In addition the Indian manufacturers have added new stylish and attractive designs which are popular among the younger generation. Among the leading Indian brands are Bajaj, Hero Honda and TVS Victor. Indian and Chinese motor-cycles come to Sri Lanka as brand new. He said people were earlier reluctant to buy Chinese products as spare parts were not available. Chinese manufactures insists that local agents buy spare parts when bikes are being imported. "However, this problem has now been solved and spares for Indian and Chinese bikes are now freely available," he said. After sales service is another plus point for Indian products. With the open economy new Japanese and reconditioned motor-cycles invaded the Sri Lankan market and it caught up well and today it has lost its market share due to low cost bikes mainly from China and India. |
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