India dethrones China to bag world's No 1 two-wheeler market title

In 2016, India sold 17.7 million two-wheelers as against China's 16.8 million two-wheeler sales during the same period.

world’s largest two-wheeler market, India two-wheeler market, two-wheeler sales India — India becomes world’s largest two-wheeler marketReuters file

It is official. India is the world's largest two-wheeler market. According to the data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), India beat China to assume the numero uno position based on the sales figures in 2016-2017. In 2016, India sold 17.7 million two-wheelers as against China's 16.8 million two-wheeler sales during the same period.

The improved options offered in the two-wheeler segment coupled with novel and innovative business models such as e-commerce have been billed as the reasons for the surge in sales of two-wheelers in the country.

China on the other end has witnessed a slump mainly attributed to stringent regulations, high import duties and a dull market for higher-end bikes. Nearly 200 municipalities and cities of China have banned motorcycles in downtown areas and bikes with heavy engines are not allowed to enter urban areas, reports CarandBike.

In India, two-wheeler sales have seen an uptick in the past few years. In 2011-12, the Indian two wheeler markets saw sales of more than 13 million units before making a huge leap of 16 million unit sales in 2014-15. In 2016, out of the 17.7 million two-wheelers sold, over 5 million were scooters while commuter motorcycles in the 100-110cc segments contributed nearly 6.5 million unit sales. In 2010, China's domestic motorcycle sales scaled over 27 million and then saw a downfall for the next couple of years.