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Suzuki tops NZ registrations:
For the sixth successive year, Suzuki has dominated the new motorcycle sales chart in New Zealand, emerging with a solid 42.3% of new registrations in 2001 - up from the 38.25% 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, totalled 3317 units - an increase of 3.6% over 2000.
Suzuki accounted for 1403 of those new registrations, in itself a 14.6% increase on the previous year's Suzuki new bike sales. In perspective, Suzuki increased its sales by more than the total sales of sixth-ranked Triumph.
So dominant was Suzuki in 2001, second-placed Honda accounted for just 11.9% of new registrations for the year, just ahead of No 3-ranked Harley-Davidson, while fourth-ranking was retained by BMW.
"Although we were No 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 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."
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. The bigger fairing afforded better wind protection for the rider, while passengers loved the generously padded dual seat.
Close behind the 1200 Bandit in big bike sales came the unfaired retro-styled GSX1200, followed by the hard-edged GSX-R1000 sports machine and 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.
But the biggest-selling Suzuki for the year was the humble SJ50 scooter, accounting for 41% of all scooters sold in New Zealand with 343 units registered. When Suzuki's other scooters are added to the mix, Suzuki grabbed 56% of the entire scooter market.
Second-biggest selling Suzuki two-wheeler was the sporting FXR150 dohc four-valve single with 256 units registered, underscoring Suzuki as the major player in entry-level motorcycling.
New motorcycle registrations 2001
1 Suzuki - 1403 Units - 42.3% Market share
2 Honda - 396 - 11.9%
3 Harley-Davidson - 328 - 9.8%
4 BMW - 202 - 6.1%
5 Yamaha - 188 - 5.6%
6= PGO and Triumph - 144 - 4.3%
8 Piaggio - 99 - 3%
9 Kawasaki - 86 - 2.6%
10 Ducati - 68 - 2%
