Bajaj Auto to drive exports to Egypt as ban revoked

Bajaj Auto will once again look at boosting exports to Egypt after the country lifted a three month old ban on imports of two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

"We got to know from our distributor that the ban on import of two-wheelers and three-wheelers has been lifted. We are very happy that the market has come on stream for us," said S Ravikumar, president, business development and assurance, Bajaj Auto.

For Bajaj Auto, the biggest exporter of three-wheelers, Egypt is the second biggest export market for the company after Sri Lanka. Of the 2,50,000-2,60,000 units of three-wheelers exported in the last financial year (FY14), Egypt contributed a-fourth of the company's overall volumes. With regards to overall motorcycles sales, Egypt is one of the growing markets for the company.

Egypt banned the imports of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the middle of February this year. A committee was set up, to look into the matter, as three-wheelers were considered as common man's transport.
The company said that it has received an order for almost 5,500 units of three-wheelers and 3,500 units of two-wheelers for the month of June.

Bajaj Auto is the market leader in the three-wheeler space in Egypt, as the company accounts for almost 90% of total volumes.

"We expect an incremental volume of 25,000 units of three-wheelers and 20,000 units of motorcycles for the current fiscal from the Egypt market," said Ravikumar.