Australia - motorcycle, scooter and ORV sales -14.2% for first six months of 2022
The FCAI, the trade association for Australia's automotive and motorcycle industry, says that a total of 47,929 motorcycles, scooters and ORVs were sold in Australia from January to the end of June 2022.
This represents a decrease of -14.2 per cent on 2021 figures (7,911 fewer vehicles sold).
Road-going motorcycles grew by +4.8 per cent (18,164 units) and scooters grew by +11.4 per cent (2,784 units). However, off-road motorcycles and off-road vehicles declined by 12.7% to 19,406 units and by -45% to 7,575 units respectively.
Off-road motorcycles had two exceptional sales years in 2020 and 2021 as many people purchased these motorcycles to enjoy recreational activities during the COVID period. From January-June 2022 a total of 19,406 off-road motorcycles were sold. While this represents a decrease of -12.7% on the same period in 2021, sales are still higher than pre-COVID years.
Off-road vehicle sales are down 45% compared to the first six months of 2021. This follows a decision by the major ATV brands to stop importing ATVs into Australia due to safety concerns with the new quad bike standard. Abnormally high sales in previous years coincided with a huge rush to buy favoured brands and models of ATVs before they sold out.
FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said that the global automotive supply chain crunch was also having an impact. "Global shipping remains unpredictable. This is impacting both production of motorcycles, scooters and off-road vehicles and their freight to Australia," Mr. Weber said.
While total sales are down, road motorcycles and scooters remain important elements of Australia's mobility network. "With increasing congestion in our capital cities, decision makers need to be planning with road motorcycles and scooters in mind. These vehicles are an important tool in improving traffic flow and reducing trip times for all road users.
"Decisions around land use planning in rural and regional areas, particularly those adjacent to population centres, need to factor in off-road motorcycle and vehicle use. We are seeing public land which riders have traditionally been able to access for recreation being locked up. As an industry we are calling on decision makers to consider the needs of recreational riders in land use planning decisions."
