The latest data released by JAMA (the automotive trade association in Japan, which includes representation of motorcycle manufacturers among its membership) shows exports of Japanese made motorcycles to Europe down by -4.64 percent in 2018 (199,129 units), but with growth seen in the final quarter.
Exports of Japanese made motorcycles to USA for 2018 were +5.53 percent, despite the total U.S. motorcycle market being nearly -10 percent down in 2018. Total Japanese factory manufactured motorcycle exports worldwide were -2.13 percent for the year at 354,839 units.
Total PTW exports to Europe (motorcycles, scooters and mopeds combined) were -3.20 percent for 2018 (217,575 units), +5.57 percent in the USA for the year (118,678 units) and worldwide were +1.37 percent for the year (456,758 units).
The increasing number of units being made by Japanese manufacturers elsewhere in Asia, the US and South/Central America goes some way to providing historical context for 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.
Japanese made motorcycle and moped (all PTW) exports fell off a cliff in 2009 to 583,879 from over 1m in 2008 and have continued to decline most years since then (463,123 units in 2017); they peaked at 1,641m units in 2000.
