Industry observers in shrinking European markets normally look at remorseless Asian powered-two-wheeler sales growth with envy. But much of that expansion appears to be stalling.
In Vietnam, the world’s fourth-largest bike market after China, India and Indonesia, year-on-year sales dropped by almost half to 335,000 units in January, according to the Vietnamese motorcycle manufacturers association. And then they were down again to 200,000 units in February. A prolonged Lunar New Year holiday and sluggish demand owing to economic difficulties were held responsible.
And in China, Yamaha joint-venture partner Jianshe admitted that its domestic bike sales were down by 7.9 per cent to 63,876 units in February, without explanation.Â
Indigenous Indian manufacturers are suffering too. Bajaj Auto’s home-market motorcycle sales in February declined yet again, by six per cent to 273,323 units. However, Bajaj benefited from a five per cent increase in exports to 142,009 units, as a seasonal  surge for the KTM-branded machines it produces under contract kicked in — helped by growth in its own-brand overseas markets thanks to a price-competitiveness boost due to the weakened rupee.
Â