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 March at +16.75 percent (22,831 units) and +16.11 percent (63,151 units) for the first three months of 2016.
In total PTW terms exports to Europe were +19.72 percent in March 2016 (24,190 units) and +15.92 percent (66,072 units) for the first three months of the year. Although that is the best number seen for the first quarter since 2012 (67,882 units), it still compares very badly with the 149,402 PTW units produced and exported to Europe from Japanese factories in 2008.
Motorcycle exports to the USA were +31.69 percent in March (9,883 units), but are still down at -2.64 percent (27,994 units) for the first quarter (compared to 162,066 units in the first three months of 2007).
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.
