São Paulo – Motorcycle production in Brazil dropped 16.8% in 2015, according to results released this Thursday (14) by the Brazilian Motorcycle, Moped and Bicycle Manufacturers Association (Abraciclo). Last year, 1.26 million units were made, down from 1.51 million in 2014. By early December, Abraciclo had estimated total production at 1.27 million motorcycles.
In December, 50,600 units were made, down 40.3% from a year ago. In December from November, output dropped 32.5%. Abraciclo said December is a month in which several manufacturers close for the holidays, leading to a seasonal slump in production.
Wholesale sales also dropped, from 1.43 million units sold in 2014 to 1.19 million in 2015, a 16.85% decline. In December, 69,200 bikes were sold in Brazil, down 39.3% from December 2014. In December from November, wholesale sales edged down 1.6%.
In 2016, Abraciclo is expecting a 2.5% increase in output over 2015, to 1.29 million units. Exports are expected to go from 69,100 units in 2015 to 75,000 units this year. Abraciclo’s early-December forecast had been for production at 1.28 million motorcycles and 73,000 units shipped abroad in 2015. The 2016 export forecast has remained the same.
*With information from the ANBA Newsroom. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
