BS-III ban: Two-wheeler majors offer cash benefits of up to Rs 22,000

Hero, HMSI and Bajaj sweeten discounts to move unsold BS-III inventory

It’s time for year-end sales of two-wheelers by leading brands because of the Supreme Court’s Wednesday order, which banned sales of vehicles complying with Bharat Stage-III (BS-III) emission norms from April 1. 

Saddled with a few hundred thousand BS-III two-wheelers, industry players, including Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) and Bajaj Auto, are offering discounts of up to Rs 22,000 on BS-III two-wheelers to clear the inventory. 

The two-wheeler industry had about 670,000 BS-III units as on March 20. A significant number has remained unsold despite the push from companies since March 21. Companies will look at options to export the unsold stocks after March 31. These discounts will have some impact on the fourth quarter (Q4) profitability of companies, which will also take a hit during this quarter, owing to a decline in volumes after demonetisation.

The steepest discount comes from Japanese auto major HMSI. HMSI, which also took out dvertisements in leading national dailies on discounts, said on its Facebook page that it was offering a cashback of up to Rs 22,000 on any Honda BS-III motorcycles and automatic scooters purchased by March 31. The second-biggest player in the domestic two-wheeler market did not respond to queries on discounts. Hero MotoCorp, the country’s biggest two-wheeler maker, is giving cash discounts of up to Rs 12,500 and free insurance on most BS-III motorcycles and scooters.

Being the biggest player, its inventory of BS-III two-wheelers is the largest.

These are significant discounts, considering the price of an average two-wheeler, which is in a range of Rs 40,000-50,000. But what is triggering these discounts?

A company executive said there was an option to upgrade these two-wheelers in order to make them conform to BS-IV emission norms. But that process is elaborate. The manufacturer will have to take back the product from the company’s dealers even though billing and payment have been made by the dealer on such products. The next step would be dismantling the two-wheelers and then retrofitting them with a BS-IV engine and other components. “The process could cost almost Rs 15,000 for one such two-wheeler. And then it needs to be transported back to the dealer. There would be thin or no margin left to be shared between the manufacturer and the dealer after this process,” said an executive of a two-wheeler maker. (readmore...)

Adityanath drawing similarity between Surya Namaskar , Namaz is appreciable: Muslim clerics

Supporting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's statement on Surya Namaskar being similar as Namaz, Jamaat-E-Hind president Maulana Suhaib Qasmi on Thursday said every religion guides towards preaching peace and this statement will help the nation unite.

"Yogi Adityanath's statement is appreciable which will unite the nation. Every religion guides us to follow peace and love and therefore we will embrace our country as one," he told ANI.

He added that in every religion people worship in a similar manner as God is one.

"This belief followed by Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is highly appreciated," Qasmi said.

Meanwhile, another Muslim cleric Maulana Kable Sadiq said that Muslims should not get afraid of Adityanth's Government but with their own leaders.

"Muslim leadership is emotional about these issues as they do not have rational thinking. They should fear Owaisi and Dr. Mohammad Ayub," he said.

Adityanath yesterday said both Surya Namaskar practised by Hindus and Namaz practised by Muslims have similarities.

"All asanas (postures) in Surya Namaskar, Pranayama activities are similar with the way Namaz is done by our Muslim brothers, but nobody has ever tried to bring them together because few people are interested only in 'bhoga', not yoga," claimed Adityanath.

Adityanath further said, before 2014, even talking about yoga was also considered communal. But things changed after Prime Minister Narendra took steps to make yoga popular across the world. (readmore...)