The motorcycle market is mirroring the positive trend witnessed by the car market, but sales still remain at a lower level than in Western European countries.
The dealer network of Inter Motorcycle, part of the Autoitalia group (the official Romanian importer of Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati, and SsangYong), sold 122 Honda motorcycles in the first five months of this year, against a level of 164 motorcycles sold over the whole of 2006.
Currently, the distribution network of Honda motorcycles includes six dealers located in Bucharest, Baia Mare, Brasov, Braila, Iasi and Constanta.
"By the end of this year, another two dealerships are scheduled to open, with a sales target of 220 units for this year," stated Herbert Stein, president of the Autoitalia Group.
Honda accounted for 30.4% of the motorcycle market in the first quarter of this year, after selling 38 motorcycles.
During the same period, Automobile Bavaria, the domestic importer of BMW motorcycles, sold one street motorcycle and 8 off-road motorbikes, a two-unit increase on last year. Starting on July 1st, Automobile Bavaria will exclusively become a motorcycle importer, when BMW car imports will be transferred to the BMW Group.
Whereas models of urban motorbikes witnessed an 8.8% decline in sales in the first quarter of this year, scooter sales increased by 48.3%, with the Peugeot Vivacity proving to be the best-selling model.
Representatives of B&S Motors, the Romanian importer of Suzuki cars and motorcycles, estimate an over 100% sales increase for motorbikes in 2007. The estimated target is the sale of 300 units, which will be sold through the two current dealers, as well as through eight new ones scheduled to open at the end of this year. In 2006, Suzuki motorcycles saw the sale of 140 units through both their Bucharest and Timisoara-based dealers.
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