Hero Motocorp Reports 4.23% Decline in February

Country's largest bi-wheeler manufacturer, Hero Motocorp reports an unimpressive decline of 4.23% in sales in the month of February 2013. Hero could manage to sell out 501,271 units in February. The consortium had sold out 5,23,465 units in the same month last year. Nevertheless it is the fifth consecutive month of five lakh-plus sales since October 2012.



Hero reported its highest ever record sales in January 2013 only. Selling out 5,57,979 units, Hero marked 7.21% growth in January 2013 compared to the same month's in the previous year. However, showcasing a consecutive benchmark sale of over 5 lakh units at the very crisis time is something to comfort the world's largest two wheeler company.



Meantime, Hero announced that the company would be expanding its Just4her dealerships across the country. At present Hero has 30 outlets in several urban station in India. Soon, it will be expanded to 40 at the first phase. Then 10 more stores will be added in the second phase to tall 50 dealerships. At Just4her showrooms, Hero will be distributing only the Pleasure scooter. The showroom will be completely managed by women members. Designed like a boutique studio, it is felt to be more than a scooter showroom. When the Pleasure got debuted in 2006, Hero was planning to sell 5000 units initially. Now Hero sells more than 30,000 Pleasures monthly.

"Selling over five lakh units despite the overall sluggishness in the market is an encouraging sign of customer preference and sustained demand for our products in the market. However, overall sentiment in the industry still remains weak. The industry did stage some recovery during the festival period but does not seem to have sustained the momentum. High interest rates, persistent inflation and delayed monsoons have all played their part in building to a rather poor consumer sentiment this fiscal," responding on company's February sales, Mr. Anil Dua, Senior Vice-President (Marketing & Sales), Hero MotoCorp said.

"We, at Hero MotoCorp, have been trying to perk up the market through ground-level activation, communication and new products. In two of the fastest growing segments of scooters and 125cc bikes, thanks to our new launches and new campaigns, we have been consistently growing faster than the industry and gaining market share. Going forward, we are working on further consolidating our market leadership in India. We are also soon going to announce the launch of Brand Hero in our new markets in Latin America and Africa," he added.