Market reports – Thierry Mouterde (Ducati): 2015 was the year of all records – Used DUCATI

Posted on by admin

Thierry Mouterde (Ducati): 2015 was the year of all records

Market reports - Thierry Mouterde (Ducati): 2015 was the year of all records - Used DUCATI

With 4,391 registrations, Ducati posted a jump of + 21.6% on the French motorcycle market. Thierry Mouterde, General Manager of Ducati West Europe, establishes for MNC the 2015 balance sheet of the Italian brand and reveals its objectives for 2016. Interview.

Site: Do you consider that the announcement of the end of the law of 100 horses had a negative effect on the market in general, on your results in particular? ?
Thierry Mouterde, General Manager of Ducati West Europe: Certainly ! Vehicles with more than 130 horsepower (free version) suffered in the last semester. With the network, we had to engage with buyers and offer them the transformation into a free version – if it is accepted by the public authorities – to convince them to buy. Fortunately, all Ducati models in the catalog, again Euro3, are fitted with ABS as standard and should therefore be convertible into a free version, barely the ministerial decree signed … which, we hope, will not be long.

MNC: On the contrary, will it boost activity in 2016? ?
T. M.: We hope that benefiting from the same power as any European will lead some motorcyclists to give in again to passion or others to opt for a larger displacement….

MNC: Can the Paris Motor Show at the end of 2015 also stimulate the market at the start of the year? ?
T. M.: No more than previously. However, it should be noted that this clientele was much better targeted, therefore interested, and less "touristy" than the previous editions. The annual Brussels show, where Ducati is still present, opens on January 12: for once, we can really say that this is indeed the trigger for the commercial season.

MNC: How do you interpret the current success of "neo-retro" motorcycles? ?
T. M.: Fashions are cycles, neo-retros are part of them. However, the interest of many motorcyclists in adhering to our is that it allows them to ride a Ducati that is not necessarily sporty but on the contrary hyper accessible and usable everywhere. If in addition the aesthetics are at the rendezvous, then this turns into success with regard to. Ducati’s desire is to make the Scrambler a classic in the range, like the Monster, and to destroy its possible fashion effect..

MNC: What is your opinion on the ban on motorcycles before 2000 in Paris from this summer? ?
T. M.: Why would a Monster registered on 05/31/2000 be more polluting and therefore not allowed to drive in Paris, unlike the same model registered on 06/01/2000? I leave it to our public authorities to think about it … This is yet another discrimination against the motorcycling population..

MNC: How do you feel about the overall evolution of the French motorcycle market in 2015? ?
T. M.: Regarding the market in which we are present, namely that of more than 500 cc excluding scooters, it is down -1.7%. It is therefore difficult to draw positive lessons from it! We still cannot imagine it progressing in 2016, unless there is a real "liberalization of horses" effect..

MNC: What is your assessment of your brand? ?
T. M.: For Ducati and its dealer network, 2015 was a year of all records. Increase in registrations of + 21.6%, record number of registrations in Ducati’s history in France with 4,391 machines, record number of registrations for a new model, over one year, with the Scrambler and its 1,509 sales. Without forgetting the legal registration last July of the after 30 years of ban.

MNC: Which models have performed particularly well this year?
T. M.: Of course, the, in all of its versions, reached the top step of the podium and became the ninth best-selling motorcycle in France. Follow our iconic model, the, with 678 registrations, and the with 653 registrations..

MNC: Who are those who have stayed behind? Why ?
T. M.: The biggest brake is the one who suffered it with a sharp drop in second year. But the, soon in dealerships, will help revitalize the family of big roadsters.

MNC: Did your new products for 2015 reach their commercial objectives? ?
T. M.: Our new products have achieved the high objectives we set for ourselves.

MNC: What was the pleasant surprise of your 2015? And the less good ?
T. M.: The pleasant surprise was the fantastic success of the Scrambler, worldwide, with more than 16,000 sales. The regret more than the disappointment is not having fulfilled the objective we had set ourselves to win at least one race in Moto GP.

MNC: According to you, what was the highlight of 2015 in the world of two-wheelers? ?
T. M.: Regarding Ducati in France, certainly to be the first manufacturer to have been able after a long ban of more than 30 years. In the world of two-wheelers, I will mainly remember the development of the neo-retro wave and the happiness of seeing a new clientele coming or returning to motorcycles..

MNC: What are your good resolutions for 2016 ?
T. M.: After such a year 2015 where three new models were presented, imagine what awaits us with 2016, where no less will appear. As much to say that 2016 is expected as another year of records where Ducati will place particular emphasis on the development of the services of its network to customers..

MNC: What are your major events in 2016 ?
T. M.: In 2016, Ducati celebrates its 90th anniversary. This means that a large number of events will ensue, the climax of which will be in July in Misano where more than 70,000 ducatists and non-ducatists from all over the world are expected to celebrate this anniversary with us..

MNC: To conclude, what Ducati ordered from Santa Claus this year ?
T. M.: Health, happiness for the planet, the definitive confirmation of the unlocking for all our models and great moments of sharing and passion with our enthusiastic customers.

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *