Honda’s third-quarter and nine-monthly financial results to 31 December 2013 illustrate a muscular performance across sales volume, revenue and income from its motorcycle operations.
For the three months, total global sales of Honda-branded powered two-wheelers and ATVs climbed by 11.4 per cent to 4.251 million units, including a 13.1 per cent rise to 2.657 million units manufactured by wholly-owned subsidiaries. Virtually all of that growth was attributable to Asian and other emerging markets, although North America posted a 1.6 per cent improvement to 63,000 units. European sales fell by 6.9 per cent to 27,000 units.
Revenue from bike sales in the period was up by 30 per cent to £2.38bn. Associated operating profit surged by 51.4 per cent to £205m.
Over the nine months of its current financial year to date, Honda has increased total motorcycle sector volume by 8.6 per cent to 12.521 million units, with wholly-owned subsidiary production up by 8.4 per cent to 7.613 million units. However, European sales are down by 7.9 per cent at 117,000 units.Â
Resultant revenue has risen by 26 per cent to £7.22bn and operating profit grown by 44.3 per cent to £728m.Â