Royal Enfield hasn’t been shy about their desire to dominate the global motorcycle market, and they have no reason to be bashful: If their statistics are right, they’re well on their way.
According to numbers released this week, Royal Enfield sold 199,458 motorcycles in the first six months of 2015. Last year, they’d sold 138,400 at that point, which means this year’s numbers are up 44 per cent.
So, that’s huge sales growth, and consistent with what we saw earlier this year. It’s not just about the raw numbers, though. Parent company Eicher Motors saw a 47 per cent jump in revenue in Q1 and Q2 combined, and the first six months saw a 40 per cent jump in profits.
What does this mean for Canadians? So far, very little. Or maybe, a lot, depending how you look at it. Fact is, Royal Enfield has said North America is not a sales priority, so while numbers might be ballooning elsewhere, we still aren’t seeing more of those bikes here, and we likely won’t anytime soon.
The question is, is that attitude only Royal Enfield’s take on things, or is it going to become a reality across the board? If other manufacturers have the same idea, it could be tough times for Canadians who feel the need, the need for speed. High-end, high-margin bikes that are doing well in our market right now (see: Ducati, BMW, Triumph et al.), but we need to have other, more affordable machines in showrooms to introduce people to motorcycling, and also to promote competition between brands. If our market is increasingly being seen as a sideshow, that means we’re going to see less bikes built to suit our riding style, and our budget.
RE can be popular in North America if they buit a twin cylinders . Look at the Triumph twins…the old Honda and Yam twins…they are very popular now…the hipsters dream about them. It is about time RE bring something more powerfull at a right price!
No surprise on the growth – not so much a product of anything RE did in that period, rather a reflection of the burgeoning growth of the middle class in South Asia. RE is actually a status brand over there and are considered big bikes despite their woeful performance.
Otherwise…you didn’t really mean it when you said they’re well on their way to dominating the “global motorcycle market”, did you????
As for cheap scooters – they aren’t sold here like elsewhere because the market potential & conditions isn’t there. Kids here especially have no interest.
Rui, they’ve made it clear they intend to dominate mid-sized motorcycle sales. While we think that’s funny here, it’s true that they are a status symbol in the markets that are actually buying motorcycles these days. They’re selling more motorcycles than Harley-Davidson.
is that attitude only Royal Enfield’s take on things, or is it going to become a reality across the board?
It’s a fact already USA / Canada is Cash cow market where higher priced bike are sold. You Don’t see 95% of the scooters they make in Europe here and the same with bikes. In Mexico and south America you can buy Japan brands of 100 to 150 CC motorcycle and scooter for 1$000 to $1700 USA cash. Often Those bike would meet the emissions Regs etc . It’s just that they ll not import them at all . We are a side show to them due to how bike the market is outside of here. Honda alone sells 800000 scooters In Thailand last year. USA scooter sales are 55 000 / Canada 5000 and that s every brand . USA total Sales numbers are around 1/2 million bikes/ scooters a year. Canada is around 70 000 or less a year in total.
We are a side show now .
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I wish we could get those $1500 commuters. If we did, we might actually see kids interested in riding, especially if insurance was reasonable.
Blame the Canadian dollar and resulting costs of doing business in North America. Same old, same old…
I’m not sure. I think there is an attitude with some motorcycle importers that if they can sell 50 motorcycles risk-free, then that’s all they will bring in. I don’t know if that’s Royal Enfield’s theory or not, but I have observed a growing level of timidity with some of these outfits. Given the state of our economy, I can’t blame them.