The latest data released 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 February up by +22.40 at 22,049 units - the best February performance since 2012.
For the year to date European imports from Japan are +15.75 percent so far at 40,320 units. The full year 2015 was -3.65 percent, 151,715 units.
Total PTW Japanese manufactured exports to Europe were +22.84 percent in February at 23,036 units and are +13.83 percent for the year-to-date at 41,882 units.
Motorcycle shipments to the USA were -12.39 percent in February at 12,406 units (-14.77 percent, 18,111 units year-to-date); worldwide Japanese made motorcycle exports were
-0.32 percent in February, at 41,911 units (-2.17 percent year-to-date at 72,203 units).
The increasing number of units being made by the Japanese manufacturers 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
