Suzuki 2005 Annual Report Download - page 8

SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
The number of motorcycles put out by the four
Japanese manufacturers in the domestic market during
the fiscal year ended March 31,2005 stood at a total
volume of 693,000 units (93% of the previous year).
A breakdown of this figure by displacement classes
shows volume for the 125cc-and-under class dropping to
557,000 units (91%), with a rise in sales of the 126cc-and-
over class to 136,000 units (103%).
Further breaking down the figures for the 50cc-and-
under class, there was a drop in sales of scooters and
leisure models to 489,000 units (93%). Sales in the 51-to-
125cc class declined to 67,000 units (80%), reasons for
which included a drop in units of underbone models due
to weakened demand from large-scale corporate
customers.
Looking at the figures for larger models, growth in the
126-to-250cc class continued to be driven by the sales of
scooters, which increased to 93,000 units (103%).
Although there was growth in sales of scooters and trail
bikes in the 251-to-400cc class, growth for the class
overall failed to materialize, being held to 23,000 units
(99%). Sales of units 401cc-and-over class grew to 20,000
units (113%), with increases in sales of scooters and
touring models.
Decreased volume both in the 125cc-and-under class,
with sales of 106,000 units (93%), and in the 126cc-and-
over class, with sales of 24,000 units (85%), total volume
for Suzuki in fiscal year 2004 saw a decline to 131,000
units (91%).
Regarding sales in the 50cc class, the passage of the
first wave of demand for the 50cc Choinori scooter one
year after its introduction in 2003 has thrown a shadow on
shipments. Despite increased shipments for the later half
of the term thanks to sales of the four-cycle 50cc scooter
"Let's 4," which came on the market in October 2004, and
the “Address V125”, introduced in February 2005, figures
for a year with few model changes dropped as compared
with the previous year.
New products from other manufacturers hampered
sales of units in the 126-to-250cc class, which fell to
16,000 units (68%). Aided by the introduction of the "DR-
Z400SM" in December 2004, sales in the 251-to-400cc
class increased to 6,000 units (178%), while sales in the
401cc-and-over class also grew to 3,000 units (128%), but
this growth was not enough to compensate for the decline
in overall motorcycle sales.
Although in terms of units sold, the first half of the fiscal
year saw a decrease in volume, the introduction and
increasing sales of the new "Let's 4" scooter and "DR-
Z400SM" on-road sports bike worked to turn things around
somewhat in the latter half of the year in terms of segment
revenue.
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MOTORCYCLES
The Japanese Market
Toyokawa Plant
Motorcyles and outboard motors assembling plant
Birdie(FB50)
Address V125(UZ125G) SKYWAVE650(AN650A)DR-Z400SM
Let's4(UZ50)