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Evolution of Two Wheelers |
Two Wheelers have made their presence felt in the mid 50's but it was only in the last fifteen years or so that the sector has really blossomed and evolved in the truest sense of the term.
With the abolition of license permit raj, and removal of quantitative restrictions automobile industry in general and two wheelers in particular have grown in leaps and bounds. Gone are the days when one had to wait for several days to get a Bajaj scooter, today you can own a two-wheeler in a few minutes.
The opening up of the economy has facilitated the two-wheeler companies to acquire superior and foreign
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technology, which enables them to compete with foreign companies like the Yamaha, Hondaand the Suzuki.
Today Hero Honda claims to be the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world producing more than 3 million units of two-wheeler per year. It has to be noted that the Indian Government had acquired the Lambretta brand from the Inocennti Company in Italy way back in the 50's.
The company was rechristened as scooters India Limited and it started manufacturing scooters in the country with the first product being the Vijaii Super.Very soon Indian companies like Bajaj Auto and LML Motors joined the bandwagon of manufacturing scooters modeled on the Italian design of the Vespa and Piaggio. Similarly motorcycles made their debut in the country courtesy the Enfield Motors, these heavy set of machines were brought into the country to help the services people man the difficult terrains of the western regions of the country. Every category of two-wheeler had its presence in the Indian market; Kinetic Motors has been instrumental in the success of mopeds in the country.
It's also very important to understand the fundamental change which the industry has undergone after the economic reforms in the early nineties. During those days the metal bodied geared scooters were ruling the roost as it enjoyed a market share of more than 50%. The remaining space was equally shared by the motorcycles and the mopeds. However things have changed radically since then as motorcycles today enjoy a lions' share of the two-wheeler market.
Today one has a huge choice in the motorcycle category as there are products available across all segments right from the entry level to the premium segment. scooters on the other hand have lost their vantage position as most companies have stopped manufacturing these metal bodied geared scooters. This shrinking category has got a new lease of life thanks to the gearless scooterettes which are a big hit among the fairer sex. Kinetic Motors is trying to revive this category by infusing fresh blood in the form of Kinetic Blaze.
The mopeds segment have seen a stagnant growth over the recent years but with rural connectivity improving with each passing day and motorcycles becoming more afFordable , they are also posed to have a natural death.
So in conclusion one can say that the two wheeler market has evolved in such a manner that in the days to come motorcycles are expected to be the most preferred choice of the consumer.
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