As we anticipated after the rate of attrition in 2022, new powered two-wheeler registrations decline continued in the first month of 2023. But at least proper petrolhead machinery got close to holding station, while disenchantment with battery-electric alternatives grew at pace. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Perhaps we should thank the MCIA for revising the way it presents press statistics, to more clearly expose the failure of ill-considered backing for the government’s mono-directional “zero emissions at the tailpipe” strategy.
In previously conventional terms, total January registrations fell by 6.8% to 5764. Motorcycles were 7.1% down to 3933 and scooters 7% lower at 1447. Mopeds sank by 10.8% to 330 and trikes stacked on 92.9% to 54.
But MCIA statisticians now kindly split headcount on the basis of internal combustion (ICE) and electric powertrains too. The former were only 2.2% down at 5563. The latter plummeted by 59.5% to a mere 201.
And how did the mobility market, upon which the MCIA loves to focus, perform? Up-to-125cc products comprising ICE mopeds, scooters and small motorcycles firmly bucked the overall negative trend, boasting a 7.5% increase to 2507. Some 228 Yamaha NMax 125 scooters easily out-registered the entire sparky field. The equivalent up-to-11kW electric opposition executed a 59.1% dive to just 183. You couldn’t find a better example of the general public voting with its wallets against a dysfunctional future.
However, moving towards higher-end mobility, leisure and enthusiast ICE orientation, January’s market was weaker. The 126-1000cc range retreated by 14.8% to 2243. Only the over-1000cc sector did good business, rising by 12% to 813, with the formidable BMW R1250GS Adventure accounting for slightly more than 10% of this total. Best not to stress identifiable over-11kw electric steed challengers. There were only four. Among them, a solitary Energica Experia represented the over-35kW firmament.
As for the top-ten manufacturer grid in January, Honda maintained pole position but its volume fell by 5.5%. First loser Yamaha went exactly the other way, 5.5% up thanks all those NMax scooters. Probably satisfying a fleet order, they also took a 32.2% share of the brand’s monthly registrations. BMW Motorrad completed the podium, 2.4% down despite earning highest-registered accolades in the 751-1000cc and over-1000cc ICE slots, plus an up-to-35kW electric gong. (A pair of CE 04 scooters can go a long way, but perhaps not literally.)
Triumph crossed the line in fourth, 11.8% up but with Suzuki in surprise pursuit. KTM followed, in arrears by 15.5%. Royal Enfield snatched seventh spot, 33.3% up as its new budget Hunter 350 contributed a 36.2% share of brand action. Then Lexmoto had a terrible month, 40.6% down in eighth place. Kawasaki was ninth, losing 8.4%, and Piaggio crept in as tail-ender with no year-on-year comparison.
Everything’s going to be alright, though, because MCIA chief executive Tony Campbell has assured us: “With many economic factors impacting on household finances this year, it’s no surprise the start of 2023 has seen a slight reduction in volumes. Despite this, we continue to predict an optimistic outlook for quarter one but also for the full year.” Other opinions are available.