Sales of high-end bikes accelerate

SÃO PAULO-although represents a small slice of the total volume of plates issued, the brands that have high-end bikes in its core business are beyond the difficult moment lived by the sector. Consumers of this niche have no difficulty for credit approval, factor that contributes to the development of the premium segment in the country, today the fifth largest in the world.
"With the trend of increasing income of Brazil, we will certainly expand our sales," says the General Manager of Triumph Motorcycles of Brazil, Marcelo Silva. The British brand sells bikes above 600 BMWs in the country, with prices ranging from $ 29,900 to $ 79,900. "Despite the slowdown in the sector as a whole, the premium market of motorcycles is stable", ponders Silva.
The Triumph is considered to be the first manufacturer of motorcycles in the world and came to be marketed in Brazil at the end of 2012. According to Silva, in the first half of this year, the brand obtained 40% growth over the same period last year.
"Despite our basis for comparison, we had an expressive growth, considering the scenario", says Silva.
To give you an idea of how the two-Wheeler sector is operating, while BMW rose 2% in the first half, the Brazilian market leader Honda and Dafra recorded 13.3% drop and 22.3 percent, respectively, on the same basis of comparison.
"The greater impact in the segment of low cylinder capacity is the purchasing power. This consumer, in addition to facing credit crunches, have seen their income eroded over the last three years, "says the President of the Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of motorcycles, Scooters, mopeds, bicycles and similar (Abraciclo), Marcos Fermanian.
The motorcycle plates issued over 450 BMWs grew 12.7% in the first half of this year, while the overall market fell 4.1%. For the year, the premium segment's growth projection is of 17.8%. "The motorcycle industry in the country, has been increasingly solidifying and that means consumers are migrating to larger BMWs. The Brazilian market premium is the fifth largest in the world, "says Fermanian.
The Brazil also is the fifth operation of Triumph in the world. "We passed traditional markets such as Japan, Italy and Spain", celebrates the brand manager. For this year, the automaker projects sales of 4.5 million units in the Country, high of 83% for 2013. "We are a niche brand rather than volumes," says Silva. On Thursday (16), the Triumph Brazil launches the model Thunderbird Commander, who enters to fight primarily with the bikes from Harley-Davidson competitor. "We are a strong brand with quality products. Let's enter the contest for market share ", he assures.
An eye on the movement of the market today, all brands of bikes were focused on the launch of models above 450 BMWs at the last Salon two wheels, in 2013, including those with strong performance in the basic segment, as is the case with the Honda leader.
Projections
Abraciclo revisions, this Wednesday (16), projections for the year. "In this period of World Cup, the results came in below the expected," says the President of Abraciclo, Fermanian Marcos. For this reason, to 2014, sales should fall for the first time in a few years, about 1%. Production and exports can go back even further – on a weak base, very affected by the restrictions of Argentina. "There are no signs that we must uphold the Argentina effect this year", ponders Fermanian.
Stocks in the sector has added about a month ago, when the normal is 15 days. "We've been trying to talk with banks to unlock the credit," says the President of Abraciclo.
He points out that today, only 20% of requests for funding in the segment until 150 BMWs (representing 80% of sales in the country) are approved. "In the premium segment, the approval rating reaches 70%," says Fermanian.