International Dealer News 171 Feb/Mar 2023 IDN171 Feb/Mar 2023 | Page 16

THE BRADLEY REPORT
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THE BRADLEY REPORT

NEWS

BRIEFS

MV Agusta Motor S . p . A . has announced the final resolution of the creditor agreement (" Concordato Preventivo in Continuità Aziendale ") that arose from its 2017 filing . December 29 , 2022 saw a Court in Varese declare that the procedure was resolved , after having ascertained that all outstanding debt with creditors and all obligations under the composition had been entirely settled . The Sardarov family have been supporting MV Agusta financially since 2017 and took control of the company four years ago . Since 2017 , they have injected more than € 180m in order to restructure all of the business practices , pay off all debt under the procedure , support MV Agusta ' s day to day operations " and make sure that the company has a solid business plan for the future growth ". The arrival of the new partner , KTM AG , a company of PIERER Mobility AG , proves that MV Agusta was put on the right path and marks a new positive development under the leadership of CEO Timur Sardarov , who is adamant that a difficult phase in the company ' s history is officially over - " the dark days are over ," he said .
Husqvarna and GasGas have been confirmed continued support for their MXGP and Enduro World Championship teams by Czech Republic manufacturer Brisk Spark Plugs in 2023 .
The 1,000th Motorcycle Grand Prix in the more than 70-year history of the sport is set to take place at the classic circuit Le Mans when the SHARK Grand Prix de France is staged at the iconic circuit on May 13-14 , 2023 . Le Mans has hosted 35 Grands Prix and was first used in 1969 before MotoGP returned to the track full time from 2000 . The very first Grand Prix took place in June 1949 , the first of six events in the sport ' s inaugural season . Since then , MotoGP has grown with a 21-race calendar spanning five continents in 2023 . The past 70 years have seen more than 125 different World Champions been crowned in the solo classes , representing a total of 20 different nations . The sport has competed in 29 countries , and 73 venues have hosted premier class races - with two more of each set to be added in 2023 . The first MotoGP race ( then known as the 500 cc class ) was staged on the mountain circuit at the Isle of Man TT in 1949 . It was won by Briton Harold Daniell on a Norton .

Suzuki - global unit sales + 16.7 % for first nine months

Suzuki ' s results for the first nine months of its current financial year ending March 31st , 2023 ( the period from April 2022 to December 2022 ) show increases in production and sales of motorcycles , especially in India , the Philippines and Latin America . Total global unit sales volume for the first nine months was 1,414,000 units , which was up on 2021 by + 16.7 %. Sales in Europe were + 1.9 % at 22,000 units ; in North America they were 25,000 units (+ 14.2 %), but -19.4 % ( 34,000 units ) in Japan .
Total Asian sales were 1,166,000 units , which was up by + 19.6 %. Of that , India accounted for 549,000 units (+ 25.5 %); China for 337,000 units (+ 6.7 %); Philippines 153,000 units (+ 30.3 %), with the rest of Asia accounting for a further 128,000 units (+ 21.2 %). The Latin American market was worth some 150,000 units for Suzuki , up by 22.8 %. In total production terms , Suzuki made 1,419,000 units worldwide in the first nine months of 2022 , up by 117,000 units (+ 9.0 %) over 2021 production levels .
The company says that " motorcycle and marine businesses have shown significant contributions with an operating profit for the YTD of 53.8bn yen ( motorcycle operating profit + 13.7 %, marine + 12.0 %), accounting for approximately 20 % of the total company profit for the period of 267bn yen . Total motorcycle sales revenue for the nine-month period was + 37.6 % at 252.8bn yen for a 23bn yen operating profit , which was up by a massive + 148.8 % over the year-ago period at a 9.1 % margin .

Suzuki announces Growth Strategy for FY2030

Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced its Growth Strategy for FY2030 with the motto to deliver " value-packed products " by focusing
' we will introduce a battery small to mid-sized motorcycle in FY2024 '
on the customer . Suzuki says it will carry out " its unique Growth Strategy for FY2030 by operating under the principle of manufacturing ' Sho-Sho- Kei-Tan-Bi ( Smaller , Fewer , Lighter , Shorter , Beauty )' ' Lean Management ', which emphasizes flexibility , agility and the challenging spirit , and the ' Three Actuals ' principle , which omits impracticality and focuses on the actual place , thing and situation ". For FY2030 , Suzuki says it " will contribute to the realisation of a carbon neutral society and the economic growth of emerging countries such as India , ASEAN and Africa , with our main business regions , Japan , India and Europe , as the core . " We will focus on creating solutions that are unique to Suzuki , which are to develop products and services focused on the customer and grow along with the operating countries and regions . " Based on the target date set by each government , Suzuki aims to achieve carbon neutrality in Japan and Europe by 2050 and in India by 2070 . We will continue to strive to achieve our carbon neutral goals for each region , based on our mindset to expand our customers ' choices and deliver products and services that meet the needs of each region . " For small and mid-sized motorcycles , which are used for daily transportation such as commuting to work , school or shopping , we will introduce a battery EV in FY2024 . We plan to launch eight models by FY2030 with a battery EV ratio of 25 %. For large motorcycles for leisure purposes , we are considering adopting carbon neutral fuels ". Suzuki says it will challenge itself to achieve carbon neutrality of domestic plants in FY2035 . " We are promoting the Suzuki Smart Factory Creation by drawing out how manufacturing should be in 2030 , so that we continue to become a company that secures people ' s means of mobility worldwide .
' carbon neutrality at the Hamamatsu Plant in FY2030 is now targeted for 2027 - three years earlier than previously planned '
By combining Suzuki ' s principle of manufacturing ' Sho-Sho-Kei-Tan-Bi ( Smaller , Fewer , Lighter , Shorter , Beauty )' with digitalisation , we will optimise , minimise and simplify the flow of data , things and energy . Through these initiatives , we will become lean and tackle carbon neutrality ". At the Hamamatsu Plant , which is the
motorcycle production hub , Suzuki says that the plant will now target to achieve carbon neutrality in FY2027 , earlier than its initial target of 2030 , doing so through reduction of energy use and conversion into renewable energy , including the expansion of solar power generation facilities . " By utilising the know-hows earned at the Hamamatsu Plant to other plants , we will make initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality of all domestic plants in FY2035 . We will invest 2tn yen in R & D expenses and 2.5tn yen in capital
expenditures , a total of 4.5tn yen by FY2030 - of which 2tn yen will be electrification-related investments , with 500bn yen of that going into battery-related investments . " Consolidated net sales forecast for FY2022 is 4.5tn yen , which is growing at a pace to exceed the 4.8tn yen target for FY2025 set in the mid-term management plan . We would like to grow in line with the emerging countries by contributing to their growth . We will challenge ourselves to double the FY2021 net sales result of 3.5tn yen to 7tn yen in FY2030 ".
16 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY / MARCH 2023 www . idnmag . com