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 64.97 percent in September 2017 (11,985 units), having been up by +31.71 percent in June, +36.05 percent in July and +37.99 percent in August.
They are running at +26.64 percent for the first nine months of 2017 at 159,244 units, the best first nine months since 2010. This gives credibility to the widespread view that sales in Europe this year are better than the registration statistics suggest as Japanese exports reflect a production wind-down towards the end of 2016 as Euro 3 2016 inventory became an issue.
For the full year 2016, exports of 250+cc motorcycles to Europe were +18.83 percent at 180,290 units – 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.
Motorcycle shipments from Japan to the USA were +8.40 percent for September at 5,564 units (+1.79 percent in July and +28.27 percent in August) and are running at +1.55 percent for the first nine months of the year (51,689 units), reflecting the ongoing decline in domestic U.S. “metric” registrations.
Worldwide Japanese manufactured 250cc+ motorcycle exports were +46.72 percent in October (25,530 units), having been +31.87 percent in July and + 28.88 percent in August. At the end of September, they were running at +19.26 percent YTD (272,089 units), the best first nine months figure since the 308,751 units recorded in 2009.
Total Japanese made PTW exports to Europe were +41.25 percent in September (+21.50 percent in July, +22.14 percent in August) at 13,015 units, and are running at +21.77 percent YTD (170,440 units – the best first nine months since 2010 (189,319 units).
