Japanese made motorcycle exports to Europe -19.85% YTD
After the strong growth seen at the start of 2020 (January through March), exports of Japanese manufactured motorcycles to subsidiaries and their dealers here in Europe had fallen off a cliff by the end of the year.
The latest data released by JAMA (the automotive trade association in Japan, which includes representation of motorcycle manufacturers among its membership) shows the downward spiral continuing.
European imports from the Japanese 'Big Four' were down by -19.85% in January and February this year at 36,046 units, having actually been up by 20.59% (44,975 units) at the same time last year. Total PTW shipments were -11.47% at 58,717 units YTD.
Japanese made motorcycle exports to USA are up by +27.09% (12,240 units) for the first two months of the year, having been -36.21% (9,631 units) at the same stage in 2020.
Global Japanese made motorcycle exports were -11.47% at 58,717 units YTD; total global PTW exports were -6.28% (72,039 units) for the first two months.
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. Most of the Japanese made machines coming into Europe are of higher value, larger displacements.
Most of 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 at its highest and grew strongly in 2020.
For the record - to give this data some context, annual worldwide Japanese made motorcycle and moped exports (all PTW) fell off a cliff in 2009 to 583,879 from over 1 million in 2008, having peaked at 1.641 million units in 2000. They have continued to decline most years since then; most recently they were 463,123 units in 2017, 456,758 in 2018, 386,379 in 2019 and 311,998 in 2020. Japanese manufactured motorcycle exports to Europe were 177,005 units in 2019 and 130,038 units in 2020 - which, on average, is thought to be fewer than 15 units per authorised Japanese motorcycle brand dealer in Europe.
