Market reports – Mixed results for the French motorcycle market 2009 – A mixed year 2009 for motorcycles

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Mixed results for the French motorcycle market 2009

Market reports - Mixed results for the French motorcycle market 2009 - A mixed year 2009 for motorcycles

After three exceptional years – especially for the 125 cc – the motorcycle market recorded a drop of -15.9% in 2009. The number of registrations still reached the 200,000 units mark, not counting the numerous MP3 LTs. ! Annual Review.

A mixed year 2009 for motorcycles

The French motorcycle market (motorized two-wheelers over 50 cc) has been maintaining a phenomenal pace for three years. So much so that some players even considered for a time that they could be spared by the international economic crisis, the two-wheeler presenting itself as an interesting alternative to both congested and gas-hungry cars and crowded public transport and / or on strike…

Nay! The RERs have not been empty and the automobile has even very largely "taken advantage" of scrapping bonuses and other ecological bonuses to lure the customer. In the end, only Piaggio’s MP3 LT tricycles – which we will come back to a little later – really stood out in 2009..

200,017 registrations (-15.9%)

In 2009, the bar of 200,000 registrations was almost not crossed. By way of comparison in 2008, 237,695 motorcycles had been registered in France, a decrease of -15.9% for a comparable number of working days (253 in 2008 and 252 in 2009) and 5 "opening days of concessions. "less.

The findings finally appear mixed. First of all, from a global point of view, the French market is holding up better than most of its neighbors. But in Italy, government aid has enabled the bar to be vigorously raised after a catastrophic start to the year: the transalpine market has just closed at + 0.3%. Berlusconi copy ?!

Given the complete lack of incentive to buy, the decline in our domestic market of -15.9% – weighted at -10% with the famous MP3 LT 250 and 400 – seems relatively small. In the large engines (the "more than 125 cc"), the decrease is even limited to -10.6%: no offense to the grumpy, the market for large cubes remains stable and serene, with still more than 100,000 copies passed.

In the 125 cc, on the other hand, the fall is -21.2% but the 2009 score remains much higher than that posted in 2005: 92,847 immates against 85,657 four years ago. And we must remember, once again, the absence in the statistics of 125 Piaggio "big" tricycles, which nonetheless target the same clientele. !

MP3 LT: the Italian robbery !

Piaggio has therefore truly disoriented the world of two-wheelers by unsheathing its MP3 extended front axle version "LT", a vehicle which allows motorists to legally drive a three-wheeled scooter of 250, or even – and above all! – 400 cc.

Already at the end of 2008, the Italian manufacturer had registered 2,057 MP3 LT in France. This year, no less than 13,939 units were put into circulation in our streets! Adding this number to that of Piaggio‘s 125 cc registrations – which includes the Vespa registrations but not those of Gilera, Aprilia or Derbi, yes, we must follow! – we thus obtain the record score of 24,810 vehicles "equivalent license B" sold !

The Pontedera manufacturer has therefore done even better than in the good days of the X8 and X9: by integrating its tricycles – for older children because the 400 cc costs a trifle of € 8,000 -, Piaggio is therefore at the top of sales, far ahead of Yamaha.

All displacements combined this time, Piaggio interferes between the four Japanese manufacturers: with its 25,855 registrations, the Italian would climb to 3rd place just behind Honda (26,667) but ahead of Suzuki and Kawasaki (respectively 22,990 and 16,216 ).

Yamaha still number 1 in France

Despite everything, Yamaha remains the undisputed number one in France with a total of 40,114 registrations made in 2009, i.e. a colossal market share of 20%: half a point more than last year. !

Behind the top five arrives a relatively unexpected manufacturer: Harley-Davidson! While the crisis ruthlessly fell on the headquarters of Milwaukee, Harley France recorded record sales: 7,473 motorcycles in 2009, which allows it to overtake Peugeot (6,741 scooters) but also – for only 9 units! – BMW (7,462 motorcycles). Like what the custom still seduces the French bikers !

Still ninth after another good year, Triumph is ahead of two Taiwanese brands that are particularly lively: Sym (+ 4.5%) and Kymco (+ 13.1%). The latter, thanks to its new Dink Street, doubles both KTM and MBK, yet references on the market.

The Frenchman MBK even came close to falling to third place: behind him, at 22 short lengths, is the first Chinese in the table, Jonway. At the very end of this Top 20 manufacturers, we finally note the disappearance of Hyosung for the benefit of Gas Gas. Green recreation enthusiasts have not disappeared !

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