New Delhi, July 18 (PTI): Hero Honda Motors today reported a 7.5 per cent increase in net profit for the quarter ending June 30, 2005, at Rs 204.4 crore against Rs 190 crore in the same period last year.

The country’s biggest bike maker said its turnover jumped 15 per cent to Rs 2007.60 crore from Rs 1745.2 crore in the first quarter of 2004-05.

“I feel we have made a good beginning to the current financial year,” said Hero Honda Motors chairman Brijmohan Lall while declaring the financial numbers for the first quarter of the current fiscal. He added, “We are confident that we would be able to continue on the growth path in the coming months as well.”

Company managing director Pawan Munjal said Hero Honda will soon start marketing its new 125-cc model, Glamour, across the country. The bike was launched in southern India last quarter.

“The model, which has been launched in south India so far, has been really appreciated by our customers. We will continue to launch the Glamour in the other regions in the coming months,” he said.

Munjal added the Super Splendor model also had encouraging response from the market and it sold 150,418 units in the first four months since its launch.

The Munjals and Japan’s Honda Motor Company hold 26 per cent stake each in Hero Honda Motors Ltd.

According to a company statement, Takao Eguchi has joined the Indian venture as an additional, whole-time director from June this year in place of Shinichi Nakayama, who relinquished office on May 30.

The statement also said Motohide Sudo joined as an additional director from June 23 in place of Koji Nakazono, who relinquished office the same day.

Sona Koyo profit

Sona Koyo Steering Systems Ltd has reported a 17.2 per cent rise in its net profit for the quarter ended June 30 at Rs 2.79 crore against Rs 2.39 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Riding on the back of increased overseas sales, the company's income from operations rose to Rs 93.40 crore from Rs 74.16 crore.