First half of 2013: Sym’s market report

Sym has just completed the first half of 2013 with a decline of -9.5% with 1,265 registrations. Taiwanese brand general manager Patrick Lelabour gives his impressions to Site and its readers. Balance sheet.

Site: To what do you attribute the drop in the motorcycle market in France in the first half of 2013 ?
Patrick Lelabour (Managing Director Sym France): We attribute this decline in the motorcycle market to the fact that the French, in general, impose personal austerity plans on themselves and thus prefer to limit their spending and save if they can to ensure financial security in hard blow rather than spending lavishly. Many compulsory expenses have increased for the French this year (tax increase due to the tax exemption for overtime, gas and electricity prices), thereby affecting the share available for secondary expenses. For the two-wheeler market, this is characterized by a delayed renewal of purchase or by the search for more economical and less restrictive alternatives (second-hand market, public transport, Velib / Autolib, carpooling). In addition, it is true that the weather was not good this first semester, with a very long winter and record rainfall which may have discouraged more than one from taking the step of buying a two- wheels.

"The French, in general, impose personal austerity plans on themselves and prefer to limit their spending and save"

MNC: For you, what is the highlight of this first half of the year? ?
P. L .: As mentioned above, the highlight of this first half remains for us bad weather for two-wheelers. Record snowfalls and temperature variations followed one another at the start of the year, with spring 2013 declared the coldest in the past 30 years. And it is now the rainfall records that we are breaking. In short, no wonder the two-wheeler market in 2013 is struggling to take off.

MNC: Regarding your activity, what is your assessment of your first six months of 2013? ?
P. L .: The facts mentioned above have resulted in a 2013 two-wheeler market in free fall, and Sym France is not spared. The activity was particularly difficult for our structure. The only note of optimism we have is the increase in our market share over these first six months of the year compared to 2012, which shows that even if the market is declining, Sym France is stabilizing its results..

"Our sector, which is a leisure and / or comfort good, will continue to be affected"

MNC: In general, how does the second semester look? ?
P. L .: The second semester promises to be difficult, just like the first. For the majority of French people, the budget for secondary expenditure has been reconsidered. It is unfortunately inevitable that our sector, which is a leisure and / or comfort good, continues to be affected. We are however placing a lot of hope on the arrivals of the new GTS EFI 125 cc and 300 cc in their ABS version (respective release in November 2013 and June 2013). They are expected by many future customers.

MNC: What are your tools to face this difficult period ?
P. L .: Our courage and our fighting spirit.

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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