The shortage of electronic components, but also in large cities like Paris, of paid parking, have seriously affected sales of motorcycles and scooters. In France, this market fell by 8% during the first 9 months of the year, with 145,760 units.
During the year 2021, the market had grown almost 6% with 311,709 registrations, driven to record levels by the health crisis. In the first nine months of 2022, Honda leads sales with its Forza 125, ahead of Yamaha’s big TMax scooter and MT07 motorcycle.
“The activity is mainly driven by the logistical and industrial difficulties experienced to varying degrees by all manufacturers of motorized two-wheelers, as well as by the entire automotive industry,” the Trade Union Chamber of the Profession (CSIAM) said in a statement. press.
The situation should not return to a normal level of activity “for several months”, underlines the CSIAM. But delivery times have stabilized and customers “accept to be three or four months late,” said Vincent Thommeret, president of Yamaha Motor France and the two-wheeler branch of CSIAM, during a rush conference.
The braking affects smaller cars, which have been more protected by manufacturers. And if some buyers have been able to postpone their purchase due to uncertainties about their budget, “there is a wealthy clientele that travels on weekends and is less dependent on economic convulsions,” said Jean-Luc Mars at Triumph.
Paid parking and telecommuting
In the Paris region, the market for electric scooters grew strongly during the summer with the introduction of paid parking for two-wheeled thermal vehicles on the streets of the capital.
If we add to this the development of teleworking, “there is a conjunction of negative phenomena for (small) thermal scooters”, underlined Lionel Favre of Peugeot Motocycles. And on the electric side, at the moment “Chinese brands are doing well” with discount offers, he said, while electric bikes and scooters have also become direct competitors.
While cars are turning massively towards hybrids and electrics, the world of two wheels also defends its ability to adapt to ecological imperatives, be it with electric two wheels (which still only represent 5.6% of sales) or with alternative fuels, still under development.
“We are going to rethink our ‘business models,’” stressed Vincent Thommeret, citing in particular motorcycle rental and shared scooter fleets. But to defend their place on the streets, professionals want above all to convince public administrations that “carrying a 120-kilo two-wheeled vehicle to get around is a form of sobriety,” replacing the car in daily commutes, he said. underlines
Source: BFM TV
