The first quarter of Suzuki Motor Corporation’s new fiscal year ticked all the right boxes for its motorcycle business. But SMC is being careful about longer-term forecasts. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Q1 revenue from Suzuki motorcycle operations delivered an impressive surge, 21.9% up to £555.4m. Operating profit more than doubled, rising by 102% to £64.1m. Operating margin rose from 7% to 11.5%.
Total production during the period grew by 9.5% to 520,000 units. Among the two biggest contributors, products made in India increased by 25.5% to 271,000, while Asian output was 4.3% down to 202,000.
Global sales volume was 8.9% higher at 523,000 units. India improved by 27.9% to 247,000. But Asia was 8.8% lower at 186,000. North America put on 10% to 11,000, European numbers flatlined at 13,000 and Japanese domestic sales fell by 25% to 9000. Other unspecified markets taken together were 16% up to 58,000.
Money-wise, India topped the turnover pile with a 44.9% increase to £188.2m. Asian countries were 19.2% up to £98.6m. European revenue added 2.7% to £80.6m. North America was just 0.9% up to £61m. £102.3m from other markets and Japanese domestic input filled the difference.
However, Suzuki’s full-year forecast to 31 March 2025 anticipates sales volume falling by 1.2% to 1.892 million units, with uncertainties in Asia largely held responsible. On a brighter note, European sales are expected to rise by about 25% to 40,000.
And an interesting add-on to the Q1 results statement flagged up participation in July’s Suzuka Eight Hours endurance race, where a modified Team Suzuki CN Challenge GSX-R1000 entry took an 8th-place finish, apparently running on FIM-certified sustainable E40 biofuel and also employing non-fossil lubricants.
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