Suzuki sees motorcycle sales dip globally

Suzuki Motor Corp. reported its worldwide net motorcycle sales dropped 9.6 percent to ¥230.3 billion in the 2012 fiscal year, which ended March 31.

The decrease was credited to a dip in sales in Europe and Asia. The fiscal 2011 ¥2.4 billion operating loss in this segment became an operating loss of ¥11.9 billion in 2012.

Globally, 1.4 million Suzuki motorcycles were sold in fiscal 2012. In the U.S., 51,000 were sold, a decrease of 3,000 from the year before. U.S. sales dipped 0.2 percent to ¥37.8 billion.

Overall, including all segments, the company’s consolidated net sales grew 2.6 percent to ¥2.6 trillion. Domestic Japanese sales increased 5.5 percent to ¥1.04 trillion, the first time they topped ¥1 trillion.