Market reports – Luc Jaguelin: quality will always make the difference – Occasions DERBI SYM

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Luc Jaguelin: quality will always make the difference

Market reports - Luc Jaguelin: quality will always make the difference - Occasions DERBI SYM

In 2008, registrations of Sym and Derbi increased by + 10.1% and + 47.2%. Luc Jaguelin, director of Disalco Motors and Motana France (importers of Sym and Derbi in France), draws up the 2008 results for Site and reveals his 2009 objectives.

The crisis has started to sort out the brands

Site: How do you feel about the general evolution of the two-wheeler market in 2008? ?
Luc Jaguelin, Managing Director of Disalco Motors and Motana France: A return to real value. The quality of products and services will always make the difference. We can see this with the fall of some big brands that have not respected the quality pact with their customers. I am convinced that the most serious brands, the most respectful of consumers and their distributors, have a very bright future ahead of them. The crisis has started to sort out.

M.-N.C. : What is your assessment of your year? ?
L. J .: Overall 2008 was a great year for us. The figures bear witness to this for both Sym and Derbi. The last term was complicated but we know the reasons.

M.-N.C. : Are you fully satisfied with the results of your best sales: Sym GTS and Mio 100, Derbi Terra and Mulhacen 125 ?
L. J .: How not to be ! For two years, our growth has been permanent and solid. I think 2009 will allow us to really make a difference with the massive arrival of new 125 models at Sym as well as with the finalization of the new 125 Derbi range, undoubtedly the best offer on the 125 cc motorcycle market..

M.-N.C. : What are the models whose sales have disappointed you and what was the cause ?
L. J .: Frankly, I don’t really see how we couldn’t be satisfied.

The title of world champion won by our friend Mike di Meglio and the exceptional behavior of the Derbi 125 motorcycles on the Dark Dog Tour

M.-N.C. : In your opinion, did your 2008 novelties pass their first year? ?
L. J .: Sym has not really presented anything new in the 125 and Derbi has successfully launched the Mulhacen and Terra, helped in this by the title of world champion won by our friend Mike di Meglio, as well as the exceptional behavior of the Derbi motorcycles. 125 in the Dark Dog Tour: ten motorcycles at the start, ten at the finish, with an excellent ranking in front of a hundred large engines !

M.-N.C. : What was the good surprise 2008 ?
L. J .: For Sym, the responsiveness of this great Taiwanese manufacturer who, faced with the crisis, has launched a complete range of new really magnificent and very "trendy" 125 scooters. For Derbi, it is true that the title of world champion was a fantastic moment for the brand and as always, this kind of event is difficult to predict at the start of the season..

French bikers still do not understand that a 250 or a 300 is more than enough to circulate on a scooter in the cities

M.-N.C. : What was the worst ?
L. J .: The market panic in the last quarter with enormous stress imposed on resellers by certain competing brands who absolutely wanted to pass the hot potato from their overstock to their resellers, at the risk of further destabilizing them financially. This is irresponsible behavior. Some big brands, especially Japanese, disappointed me a lot about this…

M.-N.C. : Faced with the GTS 125 and its 2,504 registrations, the performance of the GTS / Voyager 250 (160 immats) seems rather disappointing. In your opinion why, unlike motorists, motorcycle license holders are they less sensitive to your product ?
L. J .: French bikers still do not understand that a 250 or a 300 is more than enough to travel by scooter in cities. Yet it is the ideal displacement offering the dynamic behavior of the 125 … with the horsepower you need !

M.-N.C. : What do you think was the highlight of 2008 in the world of two-wheelers? ?
L. J .: The return to brands of character. I salute the performance of Harley, Triumph, BMW and Ducati. These brands have been able to offer something other than a two-wheeler with a soulless engine and a sanitized look. In the context of the moment, customers are looking for added value. Since it can no longer be expressed through performance, we must look elsewhere, in spiritual added value and nostalgia. This is just the start of a trend. Once again, the return to certain values.

I salute the performance of Harley, Triumph, BMW and Ducati

M.-N.C. : What are the situations of Derbi and Sym at European and global scales ?
L. J .: Sym is No. 2 in Taiwan in two-wheelers and is in the top ten 125 brands in Europe. As for Derbi, it is of course the No. 1 in 50cc gearbox. And even if we are leaving the motorcycle market there, in the end we never forget that the 30% of the market we occupy in France, we owe them to young people who, for many, are future motorcycle customers..

M.-N.C. : How were your new products for 2009 received by your network and by all bikers ?
L. J .: Obviously good. It is true that between the six Sym novelties and the three Derbi novelties in 125, they are satisfied. !

The 30% of the market that we occupy in France, we owe it to young people who, for many, are future motorcycle customers

M.-N.C. : What are your goals in 2009 ?
L. J .: For Sym, we are aiming for a slight growth in volume and for Derbi, further growth in 125 and stabilization of the 50. The whole should bring us between 20 and 25,000 units..

M.-N.C. : Did the Internet share in your business increase in 2008 ?
L. J .: It is clear that the Internet media weighs more and more heavily in our communication. Its share in our budget is constantly expanding.

We will be at the JPMS in Lyon at the beginning of February with a big stand and … many surprises for our professional clients

M.-N.C. : What are your major events in 2009 ?
L. J .: We will be at the JPMS in Lyon at the beginning of February with a big stand and … many surprises for our professional customers. Otherwise, we will be present in quad at the White Cruise then in motorcycles at the Dark Dog Tour where Derbi had a great success in 2008. Derbi will also be present in the World Sprint Championship.

M.-N.C. : What do you think of the new compulsory three-hour training course for holders of the B license who wish to taste the joys of 125 ?
L. J .: It is obvious. We could have inherited worse !

M.-N.C. : Will 2009 be the year of the crisis ?
L. J .: Let’s say it will be a … sporty year !

The World Cup comes in such a context that we still wonder if we will go !

M.-N.C. : How do you approach the Mondial du deux-Roues 2009 "New formula" ?
L. J .: It’s so expensive and this World Cup comes in such a context that we still wonder if we will go !

M.-N.C. : In conclusion, which maxim would best illustrate your 2008 balance sheet ?
L. J .: 2008 was the year of great growth, 2009 will be the year of consolidation…

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE – Photos DR

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