The latest data released by JAMA (the automotive trade association in Japan, which includes representation of motorcycle manufacturers among its membership) shows exports of 250cc+ Japanese made motorcycles to Europe up by +0.86 percent in December (22,589 units), having been up by +18.97 percent in October and a massive +60.46 percent in November (presumably as uncleared Euro 3 compliant cross-over inventory was cleared for pre December 31st deadline registration in Europe.
For the full year motorcycle exports to Europe were +18.83 percent at 180,290 units for the year – the best full year performance experienced by the Japanese factories in Europe since the 201,000 exported in 2010, but still a long way south of the 420,000 exported in 2007 and 461,000 in 2000.
Japanese manufactured total PTW exports to Europe were -0.28 percent in December at 23,914 units, having been a theoretical +61.40 percent in November (see above). They are running at +17.83 percent for the full year at 201,182 units in total – the best annual number for Japanese made PTW exports to Europe since 2010 (228,722 units).
Motorcycle shipments from Japan to the USA were +10.25 percent in December 2016 (8,533 units), but were -9.36 percent for the full year at 72,458 units for the full year; worldwide Japanese made motorcycle exports were +2.34 percent for the year (322,602 units).
Total worldwide Japanese manufactured PTW exports were +2.61 percent for the full year 2016 at 428,619 units – their second lowest in the 21st century, having appeared to have bottomed out at 417,000 in 2015; they peaked at 1.641m units in 2000.
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 Japanese brand machines, especially those being sold in 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.
