May 25, 2009 – Yamaha: U.S. retail sales decline in 1Q

U.S. retail motorcycle and four-wheel sales fell for Yamaha Motor Corp. in its recent quarter, which ended March 31, the company announced.
Yamaha said U.S. retail sales of its motorcycles totaled 21,000, a 30 percent dip from the year-ago period. U.S. retail sales of its ATVs fell to 17,000, a 26 percent decline, and its side-by-side retail sales dropped to 4,000 from 9,000 a year ago.
The U.S. industry as a whole saw ATV sales decline 33 percent in the first quarter and motorcycle sales fall 30.5 percent, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Yamaha did note its inventories for two-wheel and four-wheel products are reduced from a year ago. Yamaha’s U.S. inventory for motorcycles fell 3.5 percent to 136,000 units while its four-wheel inventory totaling 68,000 units declined 16 percent.
Yamaha’s wholesale sales in the United States fell drastically in its four-wheel category but only in the single-digit range in motorcycles, the company said. Yamaha’s wholesale sales of
34,000 bikes in the United States represents a
6 percent decrease from a year ago. Its wholesale four-wheel sales, including ATV and side-by-side, dropped 74 percent to 9,000.
Overall for its worldwide operations, Yamaha reported a sales decline of 35.5 percent from the year-ago quarter and a net loss of $189 million for its first quarter, which ended March 31.
In its motorcycle segment, Yamaha reported a 24 percent decline in sales in Europe but a 4 percent boost in Japan. Overall, Yamaha’s worldwide motorcycle sales of 1.2 million units were an
8.6 percent decline from the year-ago quarter.
Yamaha also noted it suspended manufacturing for 10 days in February and March and
is expecting another 24-30 days of production suspension in April through July.