From January to June this year, the local motorcycle industry achieved a notable overall sales figure of 613,896 units, a 13% increase vs. the same period in 2016. This great news came from the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA), the country’s premier motorcycle manufacturers association.
As it stands, the mopeds or underbone motorcycles took the largest portion of the sales pie with a remarkable 705,733 units sold. That’s around 1,992 units more than last year’s tally. On the other hand, the business-type motorcycles (those primarily used for tricycles or delivery services), posted a record amounting to 202,098 units, an 18% increase over last year’s 170,979 sales data.
“Besides the good economy and more people having increased purchasing power, the strong market performance for the first six months of 2017 reflects the continued bullish demand for motorcycles. This is because motorcycles provide a practical and effective transportation alternative in the face of the worsening traffic conditions, particularly in Metro Manila. They are also very trendy and cost-efficient,” said MDPPA President Armando Reyes.
In support of his statement, the sales of motorbikes with automatic transmissions also had a fruitful mid-year performance. According to the data, the mid-year sales of automatic transmission (AT) motorbikes closed at 175,707, a notable jump from mid-2016’s 125,552 sales. MDPPA credits achievement to the convenience and user-friendliness of AT motorbikes.
Meanwhile, the combined sales record of the big bikes, trikes, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) reached a total of 1,080 units, a commendable 25% increase over the same period last year.
The country’s positive motorcycle sales performance during the 1st half of 2017 also made an impact internationally as stated on the data below.
“The expanding Filipino middle-class segment sees motorcycles as efficient and cost-effective for both personal and business needs. In line with this, many businesses see the need for more motorcycles, specifically the business model type, for their delivery services,” Reyes concluded.
To know more about MDPPA, visit the official website.
