MIC Reports 3.6% Increase in US Motorcycle Sales in First Half of 2012
U.S. motorcycle and ATV sales were up 3.6% in the first six months of 2012 including a 2.8% uptick for two-wheelers, according to numbers released by the Motorcycle Industry Council. The sales growth is good news for the U.S. motorcycle industry but the first half percentage increases were lower than the 6.7% increase from the opening three months.
The MIC, which represents the major motorcycle manufacturers in the U.S., reported first half sales of 375,628 units compared to 362,492 units in the first six months of 2011. Excluding ATVs, U.S. sales on motorcycle and scooter totaled 266,061 units in the first half, compared to 258,762 units in the same period last year.
Dual-sport motorcycles and scooters continue to be the fastest growing segments, with the MIC reporting growths of 8.8% and 5.6% respectively. Streetbike sales were up 3.0% as well.
Meanwhile, off-road motorcycle sales were down 2.2% in the first half, thanks mainly to a 6.7% decrease in the first three months. Second quarter off-road sales paint a different picture however. The MIC reports sales of 18,827 off-road motorcycles in the second quarter of 2012, a slight increase from the 18,392 units sold in the second quarter of 2011.
| 2012 First Half Figures from the Motorcycle Industry Council | ||||
| Type | 2011 First Half | 2012 First Half | Change | % Change |
| ATV | 103,730 | 109,567 | +5,837 | +5.6% |
| Dual Sport | 15,876 | 17,266 | +1,390 | +8.8% |
| Off-Hwy | 37,117 | 36,300 | -817 | -2.2% |
| On-Hwy | 187,571 | 193,287 | +5,716 | +3.0% |
| Scooter | 18,198 | 19,208 | +1,010 | +5.6% |
| Motorcycle Sub-Total | 258,762 | 266,061 | +7,299 | +2.8% |
| Grand Total | 362,492 | 375,628 | +13,136 | +3.6% |
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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