PH motorcycle sales seen revving up in ’16

The Philippine motorcycle industry expects to continue its strong performance this year with at least a 15-percent growth in sales, driven by robust domestic demand.

Last year, motorcycle sales grew by 8 percent to 850,509 units—reportedly the best performance among member-countries of the Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (Fami), according to the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA).

MDPPA, whose members include Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kymco, said in a statement that the group’s strong sales growth can be attributed to the launch of new models, dealer initiatives, as well as anti-counterfeiting campaigns, aimed at bolstering the sales of genuine branded motorcycles.

According to MDPPA, motorcycle sales already grew 34 percent in the first two months of the year, reinforcing the group’s positive outlook for this year.

“Given the heavy traffic condition in the metro today, motorcycles have become a better transportation alternative for the majority of commuters. This kind of demand contributed greatly to the growth we achieved in 2015, and I believe this will be the same factor that would greatly contribute to the sales targets we are aiming for this year,” explained MDPPA president Rodel Pablo.

According to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, motorcycles are the second most preferred mode of transportation in the Philippines, comprising 20.7 percent of the country’s automotive industry. –Amy R. Remo