FCAI Chief Executive, Andrew McKellar says diversity is healping the overall motorcycle market produce its solid and consistent sales growth
The motorcycle market is on target for another record year after achieving sales of more than 60,000 for the first half of 2007.
Official retail sales figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that 60,192 motorcycles, scooters and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) were sold to June 30 – an increase of 7818 or 14.9 per cent over the same period in 2006.
The road bike boom shows no sign of abating, growing 27.2 per cent for the first half of 2007 compared to the first half of 2006.
The off-road bike market rose 12.6 per cent but still leads in the overall sales figures, with 22,567 off-road bikes compared to 21,651 road bikes sold for the first six months of this year.
The motorcycle market has built up impressive momentum over the last five years, said FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar.
This continued growth reflects the on-going strength of the economy with its historic low unemployment – and also the strength of the Australian dollar which is helping to take price pressure off imported items such as motorcycles.
Sales of motorcycles grew for the fourth year in a row in 2006, hitting a record of 119,210 – an increase of 16,969 or 16.6 per cent on the previous record set in 2005.
The motorcycle, scooter and ATV markets are becoming increasingly diverse and it is this very diversity which is helping the overall market to produce such solid and consistent growth, Mr McKellar said.
With the second half of the year encompassing the traditional seasonal spike in motorcycle sales through the September quarter, the annual market is well on track to eclipse 130,000 units for the first time.
The scooter market continues to grow, with sales rising 8.2 per cent to 7156 to the end of June.
Bolwell scooters maintain market leadership (17.4%), Yamaha scooters (13.1%) have held onto second place, and Bug scooters (13%) come in just behind at third.
Vespa captured 10.8 per cent of the market, with Honda catching 10.5 per cent.
Yamaha led the off-road market in the first half of 2007 with 33 percent share, ahead of Honda with 30.3 percent. Suzuki was third with 11.8 percent and Kawasaki claimed 9 percent.
Honda dominated the road bike market with 21.1 per cent share, followed by Harley-Davidson with 16.1 per cent and Suzuki in third with 15.4 per cent.
Yamaha is fourth with 12.4 percent followed by Kawasaki (10.5%), Triumph (7.2%), BMW (4.4%) and Ducati (3.4%).
Sales of ATVs rose by 1.3 per cent to 8823 units with Honda leading from Yamaha and Suzuki