Quads continued to dominate the total motorcycle and quad sales in South Africa with increased sales for February.
Quads continued to dominate the total motorcycle and quad sales in South Africa with increased sales for February.
According to the Association of Motorcycle Importers and Distributors, motorcycle sales in February came in 12,2 per cent higher than the same period last year, with 1 313 units sold.
Trail bikes (dual purpose) and 500cc bikes made up 53,9 per cent of the total volume sold in respect of the Top Ten positions. In the Top Ten overall, quads sold 53,8 per cent of the volume.
Year-to-date sales of 2814 units were up 5,7 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year. Amid national director Arnold Olivier commented that this increase was attributable to the growth in the quad market, tempered by a decrease in the two-wheels segment.
The two-wheels segment of the market showed a decrease of five per cent over last year, with total sales of 1 803 units for the first two months of the year, compared with 1 898 last year.
Olivier said the off road, trail, agricultural and commercial showed growth, but there was a decline in most “road” segments. “Some possible explanations for this is that there are new superbike models which only become available at the start of the European Spring season, and buyers are biding their time. There is also little doubt that the current interest rates and inflation levels are influencing consumer spending negatively,” Olivier said.
The quad market continued to grow, with unit sales up 32 per cent for January and February to 1 011 from 764 in 2002. Olivier said, however, that there were stock shortages over this period in 2002, so the increase is off a relatively lower base.
The quad market currently represented 35,9 per cent of the total market year-to-date. The recreation segment reflected a 103 per cent increase, with utility and speciality (kiddies) relatively flat.
Click here for a breakdown of the top 10 bikes in each sector of the market.