The latest data release by JAMA, the automotive trade association that includes representation of Japanese motorcycle manufacturers among its membership, shows exports of 250cc+ Japanese made motorcycles to Europe in January as up by +8.63 at 18,271 units - the best January performance since 2012; the full-year 2015 was -3.65 percent, 151,715 units.
Total PTW Japanese manufacturer exports to Europe were +4.46 percent in January at 18,846 units.
Motorcycle shipments to the USA were -19.52 percent in January at 5,705 units; worldwide Japanese made motorcycle exports were -4.63 percent in January, at 30,292 units.
The increasing number of units being made by the Japanese brands elsewhere in Asia, the US and South/Central America goes some way to explaining the data, though the majority of higher value larger displacement machines, especially those being exported to Europe, are still made in Japan. Their overseas factories are primarily engaged in making and selling scooters and smaller capacity units in 'emerging' markets (where import tariffs are high) and in making ATV/UTV units - especially in the United States, where demand for such machines is strongest.
www.jama.org
