New figures published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show strong signs for the Australian bike industry, as motorcycle sales continue to increase in 2021 despite Covid-related supply issues.
The FCAI has found that 27,256 motorcycle, scooter and off-highway vehicle (OHV) units found new homes in the first quarter of 2021, translating to a 51.6 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2020.
Road bikes saw a 20.9 per cent increase in sales year-on-year, with 8784 units sold in the first quarter, while off-road models recorded an 88.9 per cent boost with 11,642 bikes sold.
INFO MOTO understands that the significant jump in off-road motorcycle sales can be attributed to the increase in domestic travel and holiday-making amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The results are clearly reinforcing the view that motorbikes, scooters and OHVs are continuing to be a favoured mobility choice across the country,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber in a press release.
“It also reflects a growing confidence in the economy as people use their disposable income to either upgrade or by a motorcycle for the first time.
“The big increase in off-road motorcycles also suggests that the changed social environment brought about by Covid-19 has encouraged many people to look to this area as a positive form of recreation.”
OHVs, which the FCAI tallies with motorcycles, saw an increase in sales of 57.2 per cent, and the scooter segment saw a jump in sales of 26.9 per cent.
Although 2021 motorcycle sales numbers are well-and-truly in the green, it is possible that they are being held back by global supply issues brought on by the pandemic.
INFO MOTO‘s Greg Leech recently investigated these supply issues, writing “with global freight systems in disarray for myriad reasons, getting bikes and gear into the country and then into dealerships is proving difficult indeed,” he wrote in a recent story.
“Order some of the more popular bike models today, and indeed you could well wait four months for delivery.
“That’s a shot to the heart of dealers, with one new bike salesman telling INFO MOTO “I have had five people in this week, looking to buy a new bike that day, and I’ve had to tell them that it will be four months. It’s a massive problem”.”
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
