The Australian motorcycle and ATV market grew strongly in the first half of 2016, with the latest sales figures from the FCAI Motorcycle Group (the motorcycle industry trade association in Australia) revealing a +3.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.
The ongoing appeal of ATV and SxS (Side by Side) vehicles, specifically for farm and agricultural use but also recreationally, was strongly evident with 11,164 of these four-wheeled vehicles sold, +3.6 per cent more than in the first half of 2015.
The hugely diversified motorcycle market, with its myriad of models from cruisers to café racers, super-motards to motorcrossers, maintained strong momentum overall. The off-road motorcycle market rose +4.3 per cent over the first six months of 2016, while the road bike market increased +4.4 per cent. The only decline was in the scooter market, which fell -11 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Japan’s Big Four of motorcycle manufacturers maintained their strong overall market presence. Honda was the leading volume manufacturer again (with 23.2 percent of the market), followed by Yamaha (with 20.1 percent), and Kawasaki (10.1 percent). Suzuki and Harley-Davidson had an 8.9 percent share each.
The Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Tony Weber, said that the diversity of models, affordability, and the ability of manufacturers to produce machines to cater for such a wide range of applications were key ingredients to the market’s continued growth.
“Road bikes accounted for almost half of the new motorcycle market, holding a 43.4 percent share. Off-road motorcycles accounted for 31.2 per cent, ATVs for 21.2 percent and scooters for the remaining 4.2 percent.”
Harley-Davidson was again the top seller in the road motorcycle market, selling 20.4 percent of the 22,921 road motorcycles sold between January and June 2016; followed closely by Honda, which sold 19.6 percent, Yamaha third with 15.4 percent, Kawasaki (11.5 percent) and BMW (7.3).
Yamaha maintained its lead in the off-road motorcycle market, selling 29 percent of the 16,492 motorcycles sold. It was followed by Honda (24.9 percent), KTM (16.3), Kawasaki (12.5) and Suzuki (11.3).
Honda led the ATV segment with a 28.8 percent share, followed by Polaris (24.4 percent), Yamaha (19.1), BRP (11.3) and Suzuki (10.6).
In a declining scooter market, Piaggio continued its sales lead with a 23.4 percent share of the total 2,205 units sold. Vespa came in second with 21.7 percent, Honda third (19.4 percent), Aprilia (9.4) and Suzuki (9.1).
