BOOM TIME !
MOTORCYCLE SALES DURING A PANDEMIC
Australian motorcycle sales for the year 2020 have demonstrated strong growth and perhaps sentiments that the consumer market during a global pandemic hasn ’ t been hit as hard as first indicated .
Total sales of motorcycles and Off Highway Vehicles ( OHVs ) for the year were recorded at 108,926 units , an increase of 19,727 vehicles and 22.1 per cent on full year 2019 when 89,199 sales were recorded . Recreational vehicles , OHVs , accounted for the greatest increase with 39 % growth . Off road motorcycles saw a 30 % increase while road-based bikes increased sales by 9 %.
The growth has been attributed to forced travel restrictions meaning Australians have often been prevented from leaving the country or in some case their state . Expenditure has been moved from travel , domestic and international , to leisure activities such as motorcycling . There ’ s also a belief that motorcycles are being used more as commuter vehicles rather than public transport , interesting as scooter sales has seen an
11 % decrease for the past 12 months .
“ Given the difficult market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic , it is reassuring to see segments of the market continuing to perform well ,” explained Tony Weber , chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries ( FCAI ). “ The rise in popularity of personal transport in this segment demonstrates that OHVs , off-road motorcycles and road bikes were a preferred option for many recreational and commuting activities during the year .”
It ' s a trend that has been seen worldwide . According to the Motorcycle Industry Council , of the Unites States , motorcycle sales stateside has seen a steady sale of roadbased bikes while those used for off road use has seen growth of over 46 %. Overall , the industry has seen a growth of around 11 %.
Astonishingly , Honda is one of few brands to see a decline of sales worldwide , albeit slight . Honda had been in an upward trend for the past five years yet 2020
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