With sales expansion in India as the current relentless driving force, Suzuki’s motorcycle business has just delivered solid annual results for the 12 months to 31 March 2025. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Revenue rose by 9.1% to £2.037bn. Operating profit was a more modest 4.4% up to £208.8m. Turnover from Asian operations dominated, 16.6% up to £1.108bn. And inclusive Indian performance was to the fore, rising by 19.3% to £740.9m. Other emerging markets improved by 12.1% to £407.8m. Developed markets weren’t so promising. European turnover declined by 6.6% to £223.1m. North America was 15.7% down to £203.6m. Domestic revenue fell by 7.1% to £94.2m.
Motorcycle production during the fiscal year grew by 6.7% to 2.042 million units. Suzuki’s wholly-owned Indian subsidiary manufactured 1.13 million of them, while various other Asia countries were responsible for 706,000 and 91,000 were made in Japan. 114,000 were produced elsewhere.
Global Suzuki motorcycle sales volume increased by 7.9% to 2.064 million units. India was star of the show, sales up 18% year-on-year and exceeding a magic million for the first time — 1.048 million to be precise. There were another 647,000 sold into various Asian destinations and a further 264,000 went to other emerging targets. Developed wholesale markets looked thin by comparison — 30,000 in North America, 40,000 in Europe and 35,000 on Japanese home turf.
New year production and sales projection forecasts lacked detail, though. The former bills a slight decline to 2.028 million, with 1.824 million produced on an Asian/Indian axis, while sales improve marginally to 2.078 million, again focusing on Asia/India demand. Oddly, European numbers are expected to slip to 37,000 as America recovers to 33,000.
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