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For the sixth successive year, Suzuki has dominated the new motorcycle sales chart in New Zealand, emerging with a solid 42.3 percent of new registrations in 2001 – up from the 38.25 percent of the market it captured in 2000.
Annual registrations of new motorcycles recorded by the Land Transport Safety Authority for the 12 months ended December 31, 2001 totalled 3317 units – an increase of 3.6 percent over 2000.
Suzuki accounted for 1403 of those new registration, in itself a 14.6 percent increase on the previous year’s Suzuki new bike sales.
To put that into perspective, Suzuki increased its sales by more than the total sales of sixth-ranked Triumph.
So dominant was Suzuki in 2001 that second placed Honda accounted for just 11.9 percent of new registrations for the year – just ahead of number three ranked Harley-Davidson while fourth ranking was retained by BMW.
“Although we were Number 1 for the sixth year in a row and increased our total registrations, it wasn’t an easy year for us,” says Suzuki New Zealand’s Motorcycle Marketing Manager, Tom Peck.
“We had to deal with shortages of some key models, and in some cases we ran right out of stock. So, it is very pleasing to see that in the final analysis, we actually managed a healthy increase in sales for the full year. Of course, it is a team effort between the staff at Suzuki New Zealand and our enthusiastic dealer network,” he added.
In the big bike bracket, the GSF1200 Bandit was the big mover for Suzuki, its combination of grunty oil-cooled GSX-R1100 derived engine and revised suspension winning favour, while the bigger fairing that affords better wind protection for the rider also scored points, while passenger’s loved the generously padded dual seat.
Close behind the 1200 Bandit in the big bike sales race came the unfaired retro-styled GSX1200, while the hard-edged GSX-R1000 sports machine was number three in Suzuki’s big bike sales chart, closely followed by the nimble, versatile SV650 V-twin.
In the dual purpose arena, the electric start DR-Z400 was not only Suzuki’s best seller, but also the undisputed market leader in this segment. However, the biggest selling Suzuki of all for the year was the humble SJ50 scooter, accounting for 41 percent of all scooters sold in New Zealand with 343 units registered.
When Suzuki’s other scooters are added to the mix, Suzuki grabbed 56 percent of the entire scooter market.
Second biggest selling Suzuki two-wheeler in 2001 was the sporting FXR150 DOHC four-valve single, with 256 units registered – underscoring Suzuki as the major player in entry-level motorcycling.
| 2001 NEW MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATIONS | |||
| 1 | Suzuki | 1403 | 42.3 percent |
| 2 | Honda | 396 | 11.9 percent |
| 3 | Harley-Davidson | 328 | 9.8 percent |
| 4 | BMW | 202 | 6.1 percent |
| 5 | Yamaha | 188 | 5.6 percent |
| 6= | PGO | 144 | 4.3 percent |
| 6= | Triumph | 144 | 4.3 percent |
| 8 | Piaggio | 99 | 3 percent |
| 9 | Kawasaki | 86 | 2.6 percent |
| 10 | Ducati | 68 | 2.0 percent |
