Honda, Bajaj, Suzuki Make News in India
Indian motorcycle manufacturer Hero Honda reported sales of 238,822 units in December 2005, up 6.02% compared to sales of 225,250 units during December 2004.
The company’s sales for the April-December fiscal nine months were 2.15 million units, up 13.9% from 1.89 million units sold during the same period last year.
Hero exported 6,282 units in December, up 14.19% from 5,501 units exported in December 2004. Exports for the April-December period totaled 72,815 units, up 67.61% from 43,441 units exported during the same nine months in 2004.
Bajaj Auto sold 154,945 units in December, up 1% from sales of 154,101 units in December 2004. An exporter of steel-framed scooters, the company moved 18,534 units in December, up 63% from the export of 11,360 units in December 2004.
In other powersports news from India, media there report Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) has filed suits in the Delhi High Court against ten Indian companies for using the word “Suzuki” as a trademark or as part of their name. The ten companies are in varied businesses, including finance, textile, manufacture, spinning and weaving.
SMC, owner of the registered trademark “Suzuki”, is seeking injunction against the use of the word by these companies.
SMC granted license to only two Indian companies – Maruti Udyog Limited for automobiles and Suzuki Motor Cycle India Private Limited for two-wheelers – to use the Suzuki brand and trademark.
The ten companies against whom the Japanese company has filed the suits are in no way connected to SMC. The Japanese company’s contention is that the usage of the word “Suzuki” as the part of their name or as a trademark creates an impression that they are connected to SMC.
