Like most sectors of the economy motorcycle sales are down. U.S. motorcycle and scooter sales were nearly 300,000 in 1992, and continued to rise until 2005 when close to 1.1 million two wheeled vehicles were sold. Sales have been decreasing since that point with sales of 948,464 in 2007 and 879,910 in 2008. The sales figures for the first six months of 2009 show a decrease of 177,650 over the same period in 2008. Scooter sales, which had increased to 76,748 (+41.5%) in 2008, have decreased by 67% for the first six months of 2009.The decrease in sales isn’t limited to the U.S. with domestic Japanese motorcycle sales for the first half of the 2009 down by 22.2%. Total motorcycle production in Japan decreased by 232,403 units (-39.2%). This is the third consecutive year that total Japanese motorcycle production has decreased. The Yamaha Motor Company, which sells a variety of products, said yesterday its loss in 2009 would be more than four times bigger than previously expected because of sluggish motorcycle sales and a strong yen.
BMW reported earlier in the year that their motorcycle sales had decreased in the first quarter. After selling 21,046 bikes in the first quarter of 2008, the company’s 2009 sales for the same period dropped by 18.1% to 17,232 units. Ducati doesn’t publish their sales figures, but earlier in the year upper management at the company took a 10% pay cut, and gave up future bonuses. Through June total motorcycle sales in Europe had decreased by 18,000 (-21%) when compared to the first six months of 2008.
The one bright spot in the world of motorcycles appears to be India. Hero Honda Motors, the world’s largest producer of two-wheeled vehicles, reported a 30.39% increase in sales (366,808 total units) for the month of July when compared to 2008. Bajaj Auto, India's second-largest motorcycle manufacturer, is beating forecasts with a 67% increase in second quarter profits with only an 869 unit decrease in production when compared to the first six months of 2008. Bajaj Auto currently owns 31.72% of KTM, and industry analysts are predicting that the company will increase their stake in the company in the next few years.
