Suzuki’s long-term losing streak on motorcycles continued into the first quarter of its 2016/2017 fiscal year to 30 June, reports financial editor Roger Willis.
Total global volume was down by 4.7% to 242,000 bikes and ATVs. While Japanese domestic sales grew by 7.7% to 14,000 units and Asian markets were dead flat at 169,000, the tally was falling everywhere else. Higher-value European volume shrank by 12.5% to 14,000 and North America plunged by 25% to just 6000. Unspecified “other areas” suffered a 17.8% decline to 37,000.
Revenue from the motorcycle business dropped by 16.7% to £375.8m. But saving the best news until last, an associated operating loss was £4.2m, against a £19.6m loss in the equivalent period last year.