Scooter News FCAI 2007 Sales Update Road bikes driving motorcycle boom. Update on two wheels for 2007
FCAI Surging demand for road bikes looks set to drive the national motorcycle market to a new all-time sales record in 2007.
Official retail sales figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that 91,633 motorcycles, scooters and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) were sold in the nine months to September 30 - an increase of 8683 or 10.5 per cent over the same period in 2006.
The Road bike market is booming, growing 20.8 per cent so far this year, compared with a 5.3 per cent growth in the Off Road motorcycle market.
At the end of the third quarter 34,603 off-road bikes had been sold compared with 32,460 road bikes.
The trend could see road bikes overtake off-road bikes as the largest motorcycle market for the first time in several years.
The Cruiser segment has been the biggest contributor to the growth of the Road bike market, with sales of 9482 year-to-date - a 33.6 per cent increase over the same period in 2006.
Cruisers now represent 29.2 per cent - or almost one-third - of all road bike sales.
"Cruiser sales are booming, in part because sustained economic growth means returning riders in their forties and fifties have a higher level of disposable income to spend on recreational motorcycles," said the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Andrew McKellar.
The other major contributor to the growth of the Road bike market this year has been the 250cc segment.
Sales of 250s were up 35.2 per cent to 6503 in the first nine months, making it the fastest growing segment of the Australian motorcycle market.
"The increase in sales of 250s is a strong indicator of the overall health of the motorcycle market because it suggests that a growing number of new riders are taking up motorcycling," said Mr McKellar.
Mr McKellar said the Scooter market, which has enjoyed four years of rapid sales growth, may be about to plateau.
Year-to-date scooter sales have risen by only 1.6 per cent to 10,368.
Sales of ATVs rose by 9.2 per cent to 14,232 units.
The FCAI is forecasting total motorcycle sales to top 130,000 by the end of the year - comfortably above last year's record total of 119,210.
"Over the last five years, the national motorcycle market has grown by around 70 per cent, which is quite a remarkable achievement with scooters, ATVs and road bikes all making significant contributions along the way."
Honda reinforced its overall leadership of the motorcycle market to September with 24.8 per cent share from Yamaha (22.4%), Suzuki (13.0%) and Kawasaki (8.3%).
Yamaha led the off-road market with 32.9 per cent share ahead of Honda with 29.4 per cent and Suzuki with 12.9 per cent.
Honda dominated the road bike market with 22.1 per cent share from Harley-Davidson with 15.7 per cent and Suzuki in third with 15.2 per cent.
Honda was also the best-selling brand in the ATV market while Bolwell topped the Scooter sales charts.
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published 4/11/2007 |