Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Ktm, Suzuki and Yamaha: the MotoGP motorcycle manufacturers are most interested in racing in Asia, a continent where two-wheelers have a very important specific weight on total world sales
To understand that Asia is a geographically and economically strategic piece for the motorcycle and scooter planet, just consult the recent financial statements of the manufacturers. Even if, to be honest, you don’t need to be an economist to realize how the Indonesian people are experiencing the MotoGP debut at the Mandalika circuit. The images of the parade in Jakarta went around the world, with the pilots acclaimed by the local public who flocked in industrial quantities along the streets of the city to see, in 20 seconds or so, the protagonists of the top class pass in the 2022 season. heat, the one shown by the Indonesians, from which it is difficult to distance yourself: see Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati) running towards a group of fans and high-fives them or Marc Marquez (Honda Hrc) exalting himself by giving skids and burnout to the enthusiastic public.
the weight of asia
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Behind this warm welcome, however, there is a practical explanation. The welcome in Hollywood star style is not given exclusively by the fact that for the first time MotoGP races on the Mandalika track or by the fact that the strongest riders in the world frequent those areas for the first times in 25 years, but to understand the link between Indonesians and motorcycles must go beyond motorsport and tele-transport on the two-wheeler market. Yes, because the Indonesian market – a discourse that can be extended more generally to all Asian markets – plays an increasingly fundamental role in the economy of a motorcycle manufacturer. Or, in the case of Aprilia, of a group, the Piaggio one.
the data
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To give some references, in a country that has 278 million inhabitants (fourth in the world behind only China, India and the United States of America) on an area of 1,904,569 km² and whose capital, Jakarta, is close to 11 millions of inhabitants, it is reasonable to think that two wheels are a means of widespread diffusion. The lower costs compared to a car and the practicality, slenderness and agility of a motorcycle or scooter are the points in favor of the two wheels that push the inhabitants of these areas to orient themselves towards this world. This is confirmed by the more than 5 million scooters and motorcycles sold in 2021 in Indonesia (+ 38.6% compared to 2020, with forecasts for 2022 to reach 6 million), a market that represents the third pole in the world after India. and China.
The motorcycle manufacturers: Aprilia and the Piaggio Group
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Suffice it to say that in 2021, in Indonesia, the Piaggio Group increased its sales by 61% compared to the previous year, and in 2022 the commercial network will be able to count on over 50 points of sale dedicated to representing the Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa brands. and Piaggio. To underline the importance of the Indonesian market in the Group’s growth strategy in Asia, in conjunction with the Grand Prix, the Piaggio Group will present the new Aprilia SR GT scooter on the circuit to the Asian markets. A vehicle that combines the practicality of the scooter with the adventurous spirit – with due proportions – to light off-road motorcycles. So in a context like the Indonesian one, a product of this type – with low purchase and maintenance costs – can be quite successful. In fact, it is no secret that Asian roads are full of small displacement 4-stroke motorcycles and scooters, due to the aforementioned reasons.
the other houses
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Following this reasoning, it is therefore easy to understand and deduce how for Ducati, capable of producing premium jewels with a high cost and more difficult to access, the Asian markets are seen in a different way than Aprilia. In 2021, sales of the 59,447 units were mostly concentrated in the United States, followed by Italy, Germany, China, France and England. The results of Pierer Mobility AG (which controls the Ktm, Husqvarna and GasGas brands) show a 56% growth in sales in Asia, with 30,000 motorcycles sold. Data to be taken with a grain of salt because of the Covid situation, of course, but a non-negligible number compared to the 332,881 units sold all over the world (249,200 Ktm, 60,801 Husqvarna and 22,790 GasGas), still recording a + 23% on 2020 and a + 18.8% on 2019 globally. In India, against a general recovery of 2%, Bajaj sold 60,000 Ktm and Husqvarna for a market share of 7%. Yamaha, for its part, in 2021 sold 15.5% of its total worldwide in China, and 15.4% in the rest of the world, with Japan taking the big part (29%), the North America at 20.4% and Europe at 19.6%. The Asian markets are also a fundamental hub for Honda, which holds the record of market share on the Indonesian market and which together with Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha represents 95% of sales in Indonesia. In this context and seeing what the three Japanese manufacturers Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha offer within their two-wheeled offer, it is easy to deduce that the interest, for everyone and for similar reasons, is to look out over the MotoGP showcase. in countries where two-wheelers have a significant specific weight.
March 19, 2022 – 8:07 pm
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