Having crept back into slim profitability over the past two years, after almost a decade in the red, Suzuki’s motorcycle business is heading back down the can. Nine months into its current fiscal year, the picture looked grim. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Across the three quarters from April to December, total revenue from bikes was dead flat on £1.288bn. Associated operating profit — already very weak in the equivalent period of Suzuki’s previous fiscal year — plummeted by 80.7% to the utterly lamentable sum of just £191,000. That figure was calculated from financial reference materials. The broader results presentation for investors described it as zero.
Turnover from emerging markets in Asia rose by 0.9% to £687m, with unit sales 3.5% up to 1.11 million. But more profitable developed markets went the other way. European revenue slumped by 5.3% to £177m, while volume was 5.9% down to 32,000. Revenue from North America was 3.3% lower at £144m, on stagnant volume of 28,000. Overall, global sales increased by 2.8% to 1.344 million bikes. Production was 1.2% up to 1.324 million.    Â
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