São Paulo – The Brazilian industry manufactured 1.18 million motorcycles from January to August this year. According to data disclosed by the Brazilian Association of the Makers of Motorcycles, Autocycles, Scooters and Bicycles (Abraciclo), the output increased by 15.6% during the period, in comparison with the same period of last year.
In August, 172,900 two-wheeled vehicles were manufactured, a figure 7.4% higher than in August 2009. Compared with July this year, there was growth of 16.8%.
Motorcycle sales have increased in the domestic and foreign markets. In Brazil, dealerships sold 163,600 bikes, representing growth of 10.8%. Compared with July, there was growth of 11.4%. From January until August, foreign sales grew by 11.1%. In August alone, 7,000 units were shipped abroad, 78.4% more than in July.
"We are witnessing a resumption (of exports), but the process is still unstable and not very significant, considering that 2009 was a bad year for the industry. We need to increase the competitiveness of our domestic product in order to establish ourselves as an exporting country," said Jaime Teruo Matsui, the president of Abraciclo, in a statement.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
