First half of 2015: Honda’s market report

Honda has just completed the first half of 2015 with an increase of + 5.2% and has a total of 12,805 registrations. The vice-president of the Japanese brand in France, Christophe Decultot, delivers his impressions to Site readers. First assessment…

Site: After six years of constant decline, the French motorcycle market returned to growth in 2014 with + 2.5% (read our). In the first half of 2015, the increase was limited to + 0.8% (read our). Should we be worried ?
Christophe Decultot, Honda France vice-president: The first half of the year saw slight growth thanks to a particularly dynamic end of June. We can therefore note a very slight improvement in the motorized two-wheeler market, even if it is clearly the 125 market which plays the role of locomotive. This is explained by the novelties and in particular the new Honda which is the. More than ever, this market is sensitive and responsive to news and / or promotions.

MNC: Regarding Honda, what is your assessment of your first six months of 2015? ?
C. D .: We are up 4.3% thanks to our 125 sales, which grew by 42.6%. It is therefore an exceptional result which propels us into a leading position in the 125 category. However, we are still lagging behind in the large displacement category and we are impatiently awaiting the arrival of our new 2015/2016: .

MNC: For you, what is the highlight of this first half of the year? ?
C. D .: This is clearly the launch of our new Forza 125 scooter. It is objectively today the best 125 scooter on the market with all new technologies such as Idle stop (automatic shutdown of the engine when stationary), an engine ultra modern economy, an adjustable windshield and exceptional load capacity. In all likelihood, the Forza will be the best-selling motorized two-wheeler in France in 2015..

MNC: How is your second semester going? ?
C. D .: We are lucky, the weather is on our side for the moment. This helps to create an atmosphere favorable to the practice of motorcycling. As I indicated to you, the novelty of the second half of the year for Honda will be the Africa Twin, a model based on a prestigious past and designed in modernity. The Africa Twin will be unveiled in its final version in Milan and Paris, in parallel with its start of commercialization, scheduled for November. We are already confident because the comments on social networks and blogs are complimentary and promising..

MNC: Finally, the government has still not settled the question of the "retrofit" (read). How this lack of response impacts your business ?
C. D .: In this file, there have been a lot of all-out comments. We have been working alongside the Chambre Syndicale des Importateurs (CSIAM) for a long time in order to make the "retrofit" possible. The change to a configuration of more than 100 hp of motorcycles initially approved in 100 hp is not acquired in the current state of the file. The CSIAM asks the authorities to decide between legal interpretations and to take a position quickly. Confusion and uncertainties weigh on the industry and could negatively influence the large-engine market in the second half of the year. We hope for a quick clarification now.

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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