Suzuki profits up, sales down

Suzuki profits up, sales down, debut new prototypes

Suzuki has reported a 13.1 percent decrease in motorcycle sales volume for the first nine months of its 2013-14 fiscal year, but managed a 17.8 percent increase in net sales revenue from its motorcycle division as a result of favourable exchange rate changes.

The company says that it sold 1,544,000 motorcycles over the nine-month period, down from 1,776,000 units during the first nine months of their prior financial year, with the bulk of those sales decreases in the Asian market – in China alone, Suzuki sales decreased by 180,000 units.
Their sales in North America were about level with the year ago period, and at 55,000 units their domestic Japanese sales have also been holding broadly steady. In Europe, they’re reporting sales are down 1,000 units from the 38,000 sold previously.

Overall, Suzuki’s motorcycle business is still operating at a loss, albeit reduced from the 10 billion yen seen a year ago to 4.6 billion yen for the nine months to Dec 2013; this despite a total overall corporate profit of 82.5 billion yen (up from 48.4 billion yen last year).

Suzuki is forecasting sales of 2,037,000 motorcycles by the end of this fiscal year, down 11.9 percent from 2,312,000 for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

Following the arrival in showrooms of the 250cc Burgman and V-Strom 1000 this spring, Suzuki is keeping the pipeline full with the unveiling of two new concepts at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show in November 2013.

Suzuki will be hoping that the positive press reports following the launch last month of the new V-Strom 1000 (first seen as a prototype at INTERMOT in 2012) translates into sales when the model hits dealerships in the next couple of months

Seen here is the Suzuki Recursion Concept, a compact roadster powered by a new 588cc parallel-twin featuring an intercooler turbo. Said to provide both high fuel economy for city riding and ample torque for open roads, Suzuki say that “the style and design of the Recursion is aimed at providing all the running performance of a bigger capacity motorcycle while retaining the handling benefits of a middleweight machine”.

The Suzuki Recursion Concept roadster

Also shown at the Tokyo motorcycle show in November was the Extrigger, a lightweight electric mini bike aimed at new and young riders. Suzuki say that “while small, the Extrigger features a host of quality components including a lightweight aluminium frame, upside down front forks, and disc brakes front and rear”. It is powered by the same electric motor that appeared in the Suzuki e-Let scooter.

The Suzuki Extrigger concept e-bike