Motorcycle production reached 671,293 units in the first half of 2022, 18% more than the 568,863 produced in the same period last year, according to the balance sheet released today (12) by the Brazilian Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, Mopeds, scooters, bicycles and the like (Abraciclo).
In June, 101,695 motorcycles came off the assembly lines, down 21.6% from May, when 129,781 were produced, and 3.6% from the same month last year, when production was 105,450 motorcycles.
According to the president of Abraciclo, Marcos Fermanian, the retraction was already expected due to the beginning of collective vacations. “Factories take advantage of this stoppage to carry out the necessary maintenance and adjustments to their assembly lines,” he said.
Sales totaled 636,565 units in the year, which represents an increase of 23.1% compared to the same period in 2021, when 517,154 motorcycles were licensed. In June, there was a drop of 9.4% in registrations with a total of 20,841 units compared to 133,344 units in May. In relation to the same month last year (106,680 motorcycles) there was an increase of 13.3%.
According to the balance sheet, the most sold category was street (also known as cityare designed for use in cities) with 59,364 units and a 49.1% market share, followed by trail (lighter motorcycles, with long-travel suspension and high fenders) which had 24,213 motorcycles sold and was 20% of the market. The Motorcycle appears in third place with 18,169 units and 15% of the sales share.
Low displacement motorcycles (up to 160) reached 100,499 units sold, which represents 83.1% of the market. Models from 161 to 449 cc had 16,275 units registered (13.5% of the market), while motorcycles over 450 cc had 4,067 license plates (3.4%).
“Currently, there is a waiting list for low-displacement models and for scooters, widely used in delivery services and for urban travel. The lead time is about 30 days. In the case of premium and mixed-use motorcycles, the stock at dealerships has already been normalized”, explained Abraciclo.
Exports fell by 4.4% in the first half, with the shipment of 25,115 motorcycles to the foreign market, compared to 26,260 units exported in the same period last year. In June, 4,592 motorcycles were exported, with a retraction of 23.3% in relation to the 5,990 units registered in May. In comparison with the same month last year, there was an increase of 4.2%, with the sale of 4,409 motorcycles to other countries.
According to a survey by the foreign trade statistics portal Comex Stat, which records the total shipments of each month, analyzed by Abraciclo, the three main markets to which the sector exported the most were Colombia (6,996 motorcycles and 28.9% of total volume exported), Argentina (6,185 units and 25.5%) and the United States (4,656 motorcycles and 19.2%).
Review of projections
Based on the figures for the semester, Abraciclo has revised upward the projections for 2022. The new perspective is to produce 1,320,000 units, a volume 10.5% higher than the 1,195,149 motorcycles manufactured in 2021. The initial projection was produce 1,290,000 units, with growth of 7.9%.
“The manufacturing units resumed the rhythm of the assembly lines and registered sustainable growth during the first semester. Added to this, we have a market with an upward trend, with the advancement of delivery services, the greater use of motorcycles in urban displacements, in addition to the increase in fuel prices”, analyzed Fermanian.
However, Fermanian pointed out that even with the increase in production expectations, Abraciclo remains attentive to the various variables that may negatively impact the market, such as high inflation and higher interest rates, which greatly reduce the purchasing power of the population. “Besides, we are in an election year and, as it happens systematically, this generates a lot of stress in the market”, he said.
For sales, the new perspective is that licenses will reach 1,260,000 units, growth of 8.9% compared to last year (1,156,776 motorcycles licensed). For exports, the estimate is that 56,000 motorcycles will be shipped, which corresponds to an increase of 4.7% compared to the 53,476 units exported in 2021.
