[sustran] Thailand motorcycles

[Craig Townsend]

>From The Nation (Thailand) Internet Edition, 21 April 2000

Motorcycle sales zoom to record high

NEW motorcycle sales in Thailand hit a 31 month high in March, with sales
rising 68 per cent yearonyear, said a report from AP Honda Ltd. 

Domestic motorcycle sales last month totalled 82,330 units, the high¬est
figure since the 92,009 sold in July 1997, before the country slid into a
deep recession. 

Industry leader Honda posted the weakest gains for the month, with sales
rising 61 per cent, while the number two company Yamaha boost¬ed sales by
120 per cent. Thirdplace Suzuki sold 77 per cent more motor¬cycles and
Kawasaki sales increased 74 per cent. 

The four motorcycle companies sold a total of 206,157 units during the
first quarter, up 88,855 units or 76 per cent compared to last year’s
117,302 units, said Theerapong Jivapong, the executive director of AP Honda. 

He attributed the increased demand to higher employment, lower interest
rates for motorcycle purchases and the overall improvement of the economy. 

High fuel prices helped sales of fourstroke engine motorcycles as they
consume less oil than the 2stroke engines, Theerapong said, adding that
companies have also done heavier promotion for 4stroke motor¬cycles. 

The more fuelefficient bikes took 61 per cent of the market in the first
quarter. Fourstroke motorcycles have grown steadily from a 45 per cent
market share to 52 per cent of total sales last year, he said. 

Honda conquered 73 per cent share of the total market during the first
quarter with sales rising by 71 per cent yearonyear; Yamaha took 11 per
cent with 56 per cent sales growth; Suzuki, which managed to raise its
sales by 143 per cent, held a 10 per cent share; and Kawasaki remained in
fourth place with a three per cent share and a 43 per cent sales increase,
the report said. 

By segment, familyoriented motor¬cycles registered the strongest growth at
84 per cent, accounting for 67 per cent of total sales in the threemonth
period. 

Mopeds had a 29 per cent share with sales rising 74 per cent; and sports
motorcycles rose 11 per cent and held a 4 per cent share, the report added. 

Meanwhile, domestic new car sales rose 51.2 per cent to 54,786 in the first
quarter. 

Monthly sales of commercial vehicles and pickup trucks also surged,
affirming the expansion of business activities, said Toyota Motor Thailand
Ltd, which compiled auto sales figures on behalf of the industry. 

The Nation 

LAST MODIFIED: Thursday, 20-Apr-00

________________________________________________
Craig Townsend
Institute for Sustainability & Technology Policy
Murdoch University
South Street, Murdoch
Perth, Western Australia 6150

tel: (61 8) 9360 6293
fax: (61 8) 9360 6421
email: townsend at central.murdoch.edu.au