Market reports – Seeming of improvement in the motorcycle market – Seeming of improvement in the motorcycle market

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Seeming to be an improvement in the motorcycle market

Market reports - Seeming of improvement in the motorcycle market - Seeming of improvement in the motorcycle market

The French motorcycle market (125 and over) slightly raised the bar last March with a drop in sales limited to -5.8%. While the weather and the number of working days were favorable, but as they say: it’s good for morale…

Seeming to be an improvement in the motorcycle market

Last month in France, 18,717 motorcycles found takers against 19,869 in March 2008. Thus, the French motorcycle market posted a drop of -5.8% in March 2009: almost good news after two months of decline by -27% (read and) !

We note first of all that the weather in March was particularly favorable to the motorcycle and scooter sector: if the temperatures remained "seasonal" and therefore relatively cool, the sunshine was important and certainly encouraged French bikers to point the tip of their helmet in dealership.

But we especially notice that the month of March 2009 benefited from two additional working days compared to March 2008: 22 against 20, that is to say exactly 10% of opening days of the prefectures (from Monday to Friday) more! From a statistical point of view, this is far from negligible, even if the dealers will retort that their stores have remained open (from Tuesday to Saturday) the same number of days (21).

The month of March ends the first quarter of 2009: the opportunity to take stock of the motorcycle market in France….

Still number one in France, Yamaha saw its registrations fall by -8.1% compared to the first quarter of 2008. But in a market on a downward trend (-18.7%), the market share of the brand with three tuning forks climbs more than two points to 20.55%.

In second position, Honda follows the same trend: its registrations slipped by -9.9% but its market share rose from 15.21% to 16.86%. The world number one thus consolidates his second place in France against Suzuki, who followed him after last year..

Suz ‘sales fell by -25.2% and its PDM lost one point: 11.87% in the first quarter of 2009 against 12.91% in the first quarter of 2008. As for Kawasaki, its market share gained half a point ( 9.40%) despite a -13.3% drop in sales.

The prices of Japanese motorcycles and scooters having undergone increases – more or less significant – from April 1, it will be interesting to observe in the coming months their progress and those of their competition, especially European (read our).

In our ranking of motorcycle manufacturers, Piaggio seems to be plummeting with half the sales compared to last year (1,660 instead of 3,546) and a market share that goes from 6.93 to 3.99%. But that would be without counting the real phenomenon MP3 LT 250 and 400 with a thousand monthly registrations since the beginning of the year !

In March, the Piaggio "motor tricycles" were still 1,095 examples escaping from French concessions. By counting them, Piaggio is therefore in a much better position with around a third of sales more than in the first quarter of 2008..

BMW does not benefit from this type of joker which would put a drop in sales of -24.1% into perspective, even if the Bavarian manufacturer can invoke the general decline in the market. The Germans’ PDM therefore remains just above 4%.

Conversely, the Americans of Harley-Davidson continue to progress: + 4.4% registrations compared to the first quarter of 2008 and a market share exceeding 3% (3.17% precisely). The English of Triumph remain for the moment in front with 3.32% of market share, despite an erosion of their sales in France of -5.5%.

It should also be remembered that Jonway still scares the counters as much with + 138.6% over the first quarter! Kymco, Aprilia, Daelim and Gilera also stand out, but unfortunately with results in free fall: all show a decrease of about -45% compared to 2008! Details and analyzes by displacement.

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