The motorcycle division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries has flagged up a welcome return to profit in the first quarter of its current fiscal year to 30 June, writes our financial editor Roger Willis.
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Although revenue for the period was 3.9% down at £506.7m, a small operating profit of £2.4m replaced last year’s quarterly loss of £7.5m. Kawasaki attributed this good fortune to a better motorcycle model mix through stronger growth in the developed world.
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Volume (with data also including ATV and PWC presence where sold) was positive everywhere except in Japan’s domestic market. European shipments rose by 26.6% to 19,000 units. North America was 22.2% up at 22,000 units. Emerging countries — predominantly Indonesia — added 14% to 73,000 units. Japanese home sales fell by a third to just 4000 units.