São Paulo – Motorcycle manufacturing was down 20.9% in Brazil in 2012 from 2011. According to a survey released this Thursday (10th) by the Brazilian Association of Motorcycle, Autocycle, Scooter and Bicycle Manufacturers (Abraciclo), 1.69 million units were manufactured in 2012, as against 2.13 million units in 2011. Output in December 2012, a time of holiday shutdown, was down 34.9% from December 2011, at 66,200 units made.
According to Abraciclo president Marcos Fermanian, in 2012 the industry had a difficult period, but recovery is expected in 2013.
“The motorcycle industry experienced a strong crisis in 2012. Still, based on second-half sales, which averaged higher than 6.200 units, we are expecting stability early this year and a modest, 3.7% increase in output for 2013,” said the executive.
The decline in motorcycle output is in keeping with the 15.62% decline in sales seen in 2012, according to the latest industry overview from the National Motor Vehicle Distributors Association (Fenabrave), which ascribes the plummeting sales to decreased credit availability.
“The 30% down payment requirement, coupled with shorter deadlines, drove away lots of consumers who used to buy in 60 instalments and no down payment,” said the Fenabrave president, Flávio Antonio Meneghetti.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
