Yamaha's sales drop 36% in 2008

[Constant Mesh]

Yamaha USA's motorcycle unit sales were down 36% in the first quarter of 2008 from a year earlier, while those in Japan dropped 23%.

Yamaha had worldwide 2007 motorcycle sales of 5 million units, 11% market share. Motorcycles account for 60% of Yamaha sales and about half of total operating income.

Yamaha is the world's second largest motorcycle manufacturer by sales volume, Honda is #1.

In the USA, Yamaha is overhauling its sales network to provide more personalized service.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Yamaha USA's motorcycle unit sales were down 36% in the first quarter of 2008 from a year earlier, while those in Japan dropped 23%.
Yamaha had worldwide 2007 motorcycle sales of 5 million units, 11% market share. Motorcycles account for 60% of Yamaha sales and about half of total operating income.

Yamaha is the world's second largest motorcycle manufacturer by sales volume, Honda is #1.

In the USA, Yamaha is overhauling its sales network to provide more personalized service.

Source?

I think overhauling it's service network would be more effective in instilling brand loyalty.

 

[RonBB]

Interesting. Don't doubt your numbers but just curious what/where was your source?

 

[ionbeam]

The Knee Slider

 

[Constant Mesh]

From an article in today's Wall Street Journal captioned "Yamaha Looks to Emerging Markets".

Also an interesting article about Japan in today's Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...d=moreheadlines

 

[NoCage]

That's surprising... I would've thought sales would've increased due to rising gas prices. The bike is my primary mode of transportation, but I guess the majority of riders see the bike as only a leisure vehicle. Using the V8 truck everyday would be a killer in the pocketbook.

 

[taterides]

I work in the Marine Industry and sell to Motorcycle and Watercraft dealers. Those numbers are about the average of what all my dealers are facing. It's not that people don't want to buy it more lack of financing. One dealer told me that in Florida one bank sold 67 million in products with a 13 million default in 2007. It's hard to repo a bike or jet ski when its in a shed or at friends house. We will just have to see how this all plays out.