Despite MCIA spin about a “very encouraging” 3.9% registrations hike in March, making up for negative volumes in January and February, you don’t need to be a mathematical genius when it comes to disputing such a hypothesis. Quarterly headline year-to-date figures were precisely 0.6% down to 28,022 bikes. As BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports, that hardly smacks of encouragement.
Total numbers in March were indeed 3.9% higher at 17,443. Motorcycles did best, 10.4% up to 13,876. But scooters fell by 6.5% to 2928, trikes flagged an 8.8% loss on 114 and mopeds plunged by 44.9% to 525.
The mobility sector spanning entry-level and delivery fleet ICE fodder in the up-to-125cc range struggled marginally, dropping by 1% to 4407. Tight inventory may have been an issue for some of these tiddlers. Only Honda’s PCX 125 scooter figured in significant quantities. The best-selling Yamaha NMax 125, which dominated during January and February, disappeared.
Generally, the pitch was queered by progressive decline for battery-electric products in every key e-PTW slot, with low-end mobility stuff taking the most punishment. March’s overall sparkiness deteriorated by 67.6% to just 319 units while ICE competition flaunted 8.4% growth to 17,124. The Q1 YTD electric tally finished 61.5% in arrears on a mere 740 units.
The monthly picture was actually a lot healthier than it might seem at a glance. Traditional new-plate demand for petrolhead steeds — especially in the larger capacity classes — was there in abundance, backed by apparently ample stock availability. A2 machines up to 500cc put on a modest 2.9%. But smiles on dealers’ faces multiplied in the 501cc-plus firmament, which grew overall by 14.7% to 10,115 units.
The MCIA’s best-selling brands chart highlighted Honda’s supremacy. Its March registrations surged by 10.2% to 3279, an 18.8% overall market share. And that also reflected strength in depth through capacity classes and style categories. Apart from the aforementioned best-selling PCX 125 scooters, Honda’s CB500XA and CB750 Hornet models (the latter supported by rave consumer reviews) respectively topped the 126-500cc and 751-1000cc slots. The Hornet was also rated best Naked and Honda’s NT1100 took the Touring mantle.
In sharp contrast, runner-up BMW Motorrad was more than a thousand bikes adrift, its registrations shrinking by 5.2% to 1992 units with a market share of 11.4%. Much solace no doubt came from the brand’s accent on premium pricing. And it at least had a couple of best-sellers to boast about. Some 364 samples of the R1250GS Adventure captured the over-1000cc corner. A perhaps quieter plaudit was earned by BMW’s seven-strong phalanx of CE 04 electric scooters ruling the 11-35kW roost (which contained just eight machines in total).
Completing the podium, Triumph dealers evidently had plenty of stock and plenty of customers in hot pursuit. The brand registered 1705 bikes, a 26% increase. That relegated Yamaha into an uncomfortable fourth position, admittedly 4.9% up to 1546 but thereby suffering the ignominy of less than half the number plated by Honda.
Kawasaki completed the top five with a slight 2.7% improvement to 1100 registrations and the stylistic accolade of best-selling Road Sport tool for the Ninja 1000SX. KTM followed with a 39.7% recovery to 876 units. And then Suzuki arrived, back in contention with a stupendous 75.9% increase to 867. Amazing what a relatively small range of attractive and aggressively priced new models can do for brand credibility and dealer confidence.
Royal Enfield’s descent to eighth spot, 7.5% lower at 762 units, belied the fact that its new Super Meteor 650 twin had grabbed the Custom category gong. However, a disruptive influence had also come into play. Newly-appointed BSA dealerships finally got some retro Gold Star stock in their showrooms and 253 of them took the Modern Classic best-seller crown. An Eicher versus Mahindra budget battle, both masquerading as “British”, has begun.
To close the top-ten chart show, Ducati crept in with 694 registrations, pursued by Harley-Davidson on 521. Lexmoto, which plated 610 units in March last year, was a non-appearance — anecdotally still bereft of new-season inventory.
Before too many optimists jump to conclusions, it’s worth remembering that annualised UK consumer price inflation in February rose again to 10.4%, from 10.1% in January. At the time of writing, March figures are as yet unavailable. The generalised cost-of-living crisis is still with us, in spades, and energy prices are running amok. Business insolvencies are accelerating. A best-guess scenario for motorcycle sales points to restricted growth, led by budget pricing, or stagnation.