Majors mostly report improved global unit sales and revenues for 2022 YTD; mixed performances in Europe
The latest data available from Brussels based international motorcycle industry trade association ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles) show new motorcycle registrations for the 'Big Five' European motorcycle markets - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - down by -1.4% (781,824 units) for the first nine months of 2022.
Motorcycle registration volumes declined in Italy (-3.3%/227,400 units), Germany (-0.5%/173,750 units) and France (-7.9%/154,660 units). The other two major markets did better - with Spain (+6.2%/135,800 units) and the UK (+3.5%/90,190 units), both showing an upward trend. The 'Big Five' account for some 81% of total European new PTW registrations.
"Japanese made 250 cc+ exports to Europe massively up"
In OEM terms, it would appear that a combination of housekeeping, a return to growth in Asia and, in the case of the Japanese manufacturers, beneficial currency fluctuations have resulted in mostly improved fiscals, but unit sales performances back up the ACEM data here in Europe.
For its first half year, to the end of September 2022, Honda reported an increase of +38% in its consolidated global motorcycle sales revenue (1,412.6bn yen) from Honda Group unit sales of 9.202m (+1.03%) and +1.27% (6.343m) in consolidated unit sales terms. Consolidated sales revenue in Europe was 93,701m yen, which was down by -17.1m yen on H1, 2021.
"ACEM - Spain, Italy and UK up YTD"
In its motorcycle ("Land Mobility") business segment, Yamaha reports net sales of 1,085.3bn yen (an increase of 203.3bn yen or 23.0% compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year) and operating income was 66.2bn yen (an increase of 5.8bn yen or 9.6%).
Total global unit sales were 3.588m units for the first nine months of 2022 (up from 3.460m for the year-ago period). Domestic Japanese sales were down 7,000 units at 71,000 for the period. Unit sales in Europe were down by 2,000 units at 154,000, up by 1,000 in North America at 53,000 and up in Asia at 2.879m.
"Kawasaki and Suzuki units down in Europe"
Overall, Kawasaki motorcycle wholesale for the 6-month period was up by 1,000 units over the 2021 period at 96,000 units in total. In Europe, unit wholesale was down by 8,000 units at 25,000, while the United States was up by 7,000 units to 45,000. Emerging markets were up by 333,000 units overall at 158,000, with the Philippines remaining Kawasaki's strongest market at 103,000 units, up by 37,000 over the year-ago period.
Total motorcycle business revenue was up at 265.1bn yen (+58.4bn yen), with revenue up in emerging and developed markets, UTV, ATV and PWC, and in its general purpose engine business.
In corporate terms, Suzuki says net sales and profit increased year-on-year for the April-September period, mainly owing to improvement in sales mix/price, increase in volume, and the impact of the exchange rates, and as a result it has revised its full year forecast upwards.
In terms of its motorcycle business, net sales increased by 28.2bn yen (45.8%) YoY to 89.6bn yen, with operating profit increased by 4.5bn yen (185.4%), YoY to 7.0bn yen - mainly owing to increased volume in India. The company says it also benefitted from improvement in the mix/price of its unit sales and the impact of the exchange rates.
"Honda and Yamaha units down in Europe"
In unit terms, sales for the first half year totalled 960,000 units - up by +22.9% from 781,000 units in the year-ago period; additionally, Suzuki's ATV sales were flat YoY at 8,000 units for the first half.
Domestic Japanese motorcycle sales were down for Suzuki by 6,000 units/-18.5%. Europe was essentially flat at -0.4% (18,000 units). Asian unit sales were +27.5% at 787,000 units (India and China were its biggest single markets at +35.7%/350,000 units and +10.2%/245,000 units respectively), but its strongest growth came in the Philippines (+37.2%) and Indonesia (+42.9%).
Suzuki's North American growth was strong too at +16.7%, but on low volume at 19,000 units. Consolidated net sales revenue from its motorcycle business totalled +18.2% for the period at 175.9bn yen.
"BMW global units +1.7%"
Some interesting news from JAMA though - the Japanese automotive industry trade association that includes the 'Big Four' Japanese motorcycle manufacturers among its membership.
JAMA regularly releases information about motorcycle exports from the Japanese motorcycle factories, and while much of production, especially in small cc and powersports units, that data still makes interesting reading.
Just as this edition of IDN went to press, the latest JAMA data showed that the ongoing decline in exports of 250 cc+ motorcycles to Europe turned dramatically into growth at the end of summer - in September by +89.40% (18,643 units) and by +133.67%/21,998 in October (in both cases the highest such figures since 2007).
That data could simply be a statistical blip, but equally it could quite likely represent the recently reported easing of the logistical bottleneck. If so, then unless it represents MY2023 inventory, it hasn't come at the best time of year for Europe's dealer network, but at least it has meant improved dealer inventory supply of some kind.
"Ducati - "best September ever"
"The popular BMW GS models and the new, fully-electric BMW CE 04 were among the main sales drivers". Motorcycle revenues increased to € 2,485m (+9.9%) in the nine-month period and rose significantly in the third quarter to € 822m (+28.2%).
Ducati says it had its "best September ever" and reported "another record sales revenue for the third quarter of 2022 and for the first nine months of 2022 at € 872m (+21%). "Demand remains high with an order portfolio up 92% over the same period of last year". Worldwide deliveries of 49,873 motorcycles YTD were slightly up on the 49,719 for the first nine months of 2021. Operating profit was up from 67 to € 109m (+62%).
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| Ducati Diavel V4 - Voted "Most Beautiful Bike" at EICMA 2022. |
Italy remains Ducati's best market (8,283 units) followed by USA (6,595) and Germany (5,701). China was fourth and posted the strongest growth for Ducati (4,103 units/+15%).
The Multistrada V4 remained Ducati's best-seller in Q3 and YTD with 8,776 units delivered in the first nine months of 2022, followed by the Monster (6,903) and the Ducati Scrambler 800 family (5,771).
The Piaggio Group reports sales of 410,000 two-wheeler vehicles (and spare parts) worldwide to September 2022 (+12% compared to 366,000 for the year-ago period), for a net turnover of € 1,338.9m, up by +20.6% compared to € 1,110.2m as at 30 September 2021.
"The turnover generated by two-wheelers was particularly strong in the Asia Pacific area (+55.1%), followed by the Americas (+44.4%) and EMEA (+7.7%) markets, while the Indian market of two-wheelers recorded steady turnover of +1%".
In Europe, the Piaggio Group "confirmed and consolidated its leadership in the scooter segment, with a share of 23.5% (up from 23.1% in the first nine months of 2021), and further strengthened its position on the North American scooter market", reaching 34.9% share (up from 34.5% as at 30 September 2021).
Piaggio's scooter sector saw a "double-digits increase in sales globally, driven in particular by the Vespa brand, which recorded double-digits revenue growth and record sales volumes for the period, and by the Aprilia brand scooters".
The motorcycle sector was also "very positive" for Piaggio, with both the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi brands achieving "record sales in the first nine months of the year with the highest volumes and revenues ever. Particularly noteworthy has been the popularity of the new 660 cc Aprilia RS and Tuono, and the Moto Guzzi V7 and V85TT".
The most recent data from the KTM Group covered the first half of 2022 (January to end of June) and showed unit sales recovering, but still down compared to the same period of 2021 by -7.2% at 163,334 units (a figure which includes the models sold by its Asian partner Bajaj).
In revenue terms though, Stefan Pierer again showed that he is a master at making more from less with combined KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas up by +7.1% vs. H1 2021 at € 1,154.1m. The PIERER Mobility AG parent company (PMAG) additionally reported sales of 34,829 e-bicycles and 16,588 conventional bicycles for the period (the 51,417 combined total was -3.1% compared to H1 2021).
"Aprilia and Moto Guzzi - record YTD"
Growth was said to be particularly strong in North America, where 44,689 motorcycles were sold (+47%), but supply chain issues were described as particularly acute in Europe with 61,435 motorcycles sold in the first half of the year (-15% year-on-year).
The company said that "in the European market, registrations of the three KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GasGas brands reached a combined market share of 9.9%. This represents a decrease of -1.8% compared to the full year 2021".
In further KTM news, parent company PMAG has bought a 25.1% stake in MV Agusta and taken an increasing involvement in the Italian manufacturer's supply chain and distribution management; plus, they struck a deal to distribute Chinese partner CFMoto's motorcycles and scooters in five European markets (Page 64).
For a round-up of the latest available motorcycle and PTW registration data from some of Europe's key-market national motorcycle industry trade associations see our STATZone on pages 6 and 7. Spoiler alert: Italy and Spain are pulling up trees, the UK is doing okay-ish, but previously strong levels of sales in Germany are not sustaining.
