Improving sales of large-capacity motorcycles in developed export markets helped Suzuki’s bike business return to profit in its first financial quarter to 30 June.
Revenue from bikes actually fell during the period, down by 6.9 per cent to £378m, owing primarily to a sales slump in some Asian countries. But a higher-margin model mix elsewhere resulted in an operating profit of £6m for the sector, recovering from a loss of £16m in the equivalent three months last year.
Overall quarterly revenue was up by 5.1 per cent to £4.09bn. Operating profit grew by 15.5 per cent to £293m. Net profit rose by 38.8 per cent to £216m. However, the company admitted that such an impressive bottom-line hike was partly attributable to a recent reduction of Japan’s corporate taxation rate.