Motorcycle sales powering on with a 3.5 per cent market growth

The Australian motorcycle and ATV market grew strongly in the first half of 2016, with the latest sales figures revealing a 3.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.

The ongoing appeal of ATV and SxS (Side by Side) vehicles specifically for farm and agricultural use, but also recreationally was strongly evident with 11,164 of these four-wheeled vehicles sold — 3.6 per cent more than in the first half of 2015.

The hugely diversified motorcycle market, with its myriad of models from cruisers to café racers, super-motards to motorcrossers, maintained strong momentum overall. The off-road motorcycle market rose 4.3 per cent over the first six months of 2016, while the road bike market increased 4.4 per cent. The only decline was in the scooter market, which fell 11 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Japan’s Big Four of motorcycle manufacturing maintained their strong overall market presence. Honda was the leading volume manufacturer again with 23.2 per cent of the market, followed by Yamaha with 20.1 per cent, and Kawasaki (10.1 per cent). Suzuki and Harley-Davidson had an 8.9 per cent share each.

The Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Tony Weber, said that the diversity of models, affordability, and the ability of manufacturers to produce machines to cater for such a wide range of applications were key ingredients to the market’s continued growth.

“Road bikes accounted for almost half of the new motorcycle market, holding a 43.4 per cent share. Off-road motorcycles accounted for 31.2 per cent, ATVs for 21.2 per cent and scooters for the remaining 4.2 per cent.”

Harley Davidson was again the top seller in the road motorcycle market, selling 20.4 per cent of the 22,921 road motorcycles sold between January and June 2016. Harley Davidson was followed closely by Honda, which sold 19.6 per cent, Yamaha third with 15.4 per cent, followed by Kawasaki (11.5 per cent) and BMW (7.3).

Yamaha maintained its lead in the off-road motorcycle market, selling 29 per cent of the 16,492 motorcycles sold. It was followed by Honda (24.9 per cent), KTM (16.3), Kawasaki (12.5) and Suzuki (11.3).

Honda led the ATV segment with a 28.8 per cent share, followed by Polaris (24.4 per cent), Yamaha (19.1), BRP (11.3) and Suzuki (10.6).

“In a declining scooter market, Piaggio continued its sales lead with a 23.4 per cent share of the total 2,205 units sold. Vespa came in second with 21.7 per cent, Honda third (19.4 per cent), Aprilia (9.4) and Suzuki (9.1).