After rather too many monthly growth aberrations veering towards or into negativity this year, perhaps we should sit back and enjoy September’s impressively positive MCIA statistics – even if they may prove to be equally perverse once the new-plate boost and Euro 3 legacy stock disposal tactics are factored out.
Total registrations during the month climbed by a muscular 17.3% to 16,002 units. A 34.9% surge to 3408 scooters dominated the field. Motorcycles were 16.2% up at 11,439 units. Unfortunately, depressingly true to form, the 50cc sector continued its contraction, falling by 9.6% to just 1051 mopeds.
Among high-volume motorcycle style categories, Naked was victor — 33.9% up thanks to 4711 machines. The bigger-ticket Adventure Sport slot added 9.9% in second spot with 2412 bikes. BMW’s R1200GS returned to top that particular pile and also led the over-1000cc band, which was 35.9% up. There were some reversals, though. Custom fell by 8.8% to 1020 units and Supersport was 2.5% down at 1572 units. However, key growth action capacity-wise was a 41.7% leap in the 126-650cc range, where a scooter – Piaggio’s Vespa GTS300 Super ABS – took the laurels.
Brand rankings and market share warfare delivered some interesting revelations, set against the previous September’s performance. As leader, Honda added 5.9% in volume terms but its share deteriorated from 18% to 16.3%. Remaining on the podium’s middle step, Yamaha registrations grew by 33.5% and share rose from 10.8% to 12.3%. BMW Motorrad stuck on third place due to a 6.6% increase, with share down from 10.4% to 9.4%.
Triumph, meanwhile, ascended from fifth to fourth. The British flagship’s volume was 28.6% up and share increased from 7.3% to 8%. Suzuki also advanced to complete the top five with a 29.9% improvement in numbers. Further down the order of battle, Kawasaki in sixth and Piaggio in eighth deserve mentions in despatches, respectively stacking on 82.3% and 73.3%. There were losers too. Chinese specialist Lexmoto suffered a 6.7% decline and was demoted from fourth to seventh and Harley-Davidson lost 1%, sinking from eighth to tenth.
For the year to date, overall registrations are now 7.3% up on 101,415 units. That breaks down into a 15.2% rise to 20,594 scooters, a 7.1% improvement to 73,492 motorcycles and 8.2% reduction to 6575 mopeds
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