From Dealer News Honda Two-Wheeler Sales to NA Dealers Drop 51%

[jduke]

Honda Two-Wheeler Sales to NA Dealers Drop 51%
Publish date: Oct 29, 2009
By: Arlo Redwine

July through September, Japan’s Honda Motor Co. sold about 22,000 motorcycles and scooters to North America, a decline of 51 percent compared to the same period last year. During the six months ending Sept. 30, the company sold about 53,000 units to the region, a decline of 44 percent.

Honda defines North American sales as those to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The sales include both units exported from Japan and those made by subsidiaries. Not included would be units made without Honda parts (a slim minority of units, perhaps not relevant to North American statistics).

These numbers were divulged in Honda's financial report for the second quarter of its 2010 fiscal year. In a slideshow accompanying the financial filing, the company stated, “The U.S. economy seems to have bottomed out, although the duration of the decline is still a concern.” The company notes a North American increase in sales to dealers of sport models such as the CBR1000RR and VFR800/A.

Honda also provides numbers for its North American sales of all types of powersports units: two-wheelers, ATVs, PWC, etc. Altogether it sold 43,000 units to the region during the fiscal second quarter, a year-over-year decrease of 53.8 percent. During the six months ending Sept. 30, it sold 173,000 units to North American dealers, a decrease of 43.9 percent. Honda notes a decrease in sales of ATV models such as the TRX250TE and TRX350FM.

Honda predicts improving sales. For its fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, it expects to sell 210,000 units to North America, a decrease of just 34.4 percent compared to the previous year.

Honda’s worldwide net earnings for the quarter ending Sept. 30 were 54.0 billion yen ($599 million), a decrease of 56.2 percent from the same period in 2008.

Revenue for the quarter amounted to 2.06 trillion yen ($22.8 billion), a year-over-year decrease of 27.2 percent, primarily due to fallen auto sales and unfavorable exchange rates. Honda estimates that had the rates been unchanged from the corresponding period in 2008, revenue for the quarter would have decreased by about 16.1 percent.

Honda’s earnings for the first half of its fiscal year totaled 61.5 billion yen ($683 million), a decrease of 79.2 percent from the same period in 2008. Revenue for the period amounted to 4.06 trillion yen ($45.0 billion), a decrease of 28.7 percent.

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by jduke

The company notes a North American increase in sales to dealers of sport models such as the CBR1000RR and VFR800/A.

...with $3500 dealer incentives...

- Mark