Although Suzuki’s motorcycle business is still in the red, its first-quarter financial results to 30 June show that the brand has clawed some ground back thanks to increased revenue and a better model mix.
Total global revenue from bikes in the period climbed by 18.5 per cent to £471.5m, despite a marginal 0.8 per cent drop in sales volume to 337,000 units. Both Europe and North America showed significant recovery. The brand’s European sales were 25 per cent up at 15,000 units, with associated revenue rising by 45 per cent to £84.5m. American volume grew by 8.3 per cent to 13,000 units, with revenue up by 50.5 per cent to £87.3m.
Nevertheless, it bled money again, with an operating loss of £17.6m. Suzuki blamed this on its failure to trade profitably in larger-volume Asian markets. In the equivalent three months last year, the operating loss was £23m.