Bike production in Japan on the rise
Motorcycle production in Japan rose by 10.2 percent in May compared to the year-ago month, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. There were 53,105 units produced in May 2011, up 4,913 units compared to May 2010. It was also a production increase on the same month compared to the previous year after four months of downturn.
On the OEM front, Honda produced 18,026 units, a 31.8 percent increase from a year ago. Suzuki manufactured 17,340 units, a 5.5 percent increase. Yamaha made 9,408 units, a decrease of 14 percent, and Kawasaki built 8,330 units, a 17 percent increase from a year ago.
Production figures by class were as follows:
50cc or under: 14,975 units, up 49.8 percent
51-125cc: 6,211 units, up 52 percent
126-250cc: 5,969 units, down 12.2 percent
Over 250cc: 25,950 units, down 5 percent
The JAMA also reported that motorcycle exports were down 4.4 percent in May. There were 33,946 units exported, compared to 35,491 units in May 2010. There’s been an export decrease on the same month of the previous year for four consecutive months. Suzuki topped exports by OEMs with 11,010 units, an increase of 23.8 percent from a year ago. Yamaha (9,705, down 21 percent), Honda (8,029, down 3 percent) and Kawasaki (5,202, down 12 percent) followed.
Domestic sales (factory shipment) stood at 34,567 units, an increase of 15.6 percent compared to the year-ago month.
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