Two-wheel trials
While car dealers suffered huge losses in 2004, motorcycle sellers more or less managed to pull their own. As the yearly sales report prepared by Mitsui Motor Poland, the general importer of Yamaha motorcycles shows, 2,775 new motorcycles were sold in 2004 in comparison to 2,648 the year before.
Yamaha remained the market leader with 846 units sold, followed by Honda with 804 and Suzuki with 579. Harley Davidson sold 149 motorbikes last year, BMW 134 and Kawasaki motorcycles found 125 owners, according to the figures provided by Mitsui Motor Poland.
Sales skid
However, it must be pointed out that sales in the first four months of the year were unusually high and contributed significantly to the better end-year result. More than 45 percent, 1,260 units, were sold before Poland's accession to the EU compared to 984 in the same period of 2003.
After May 1 when all trade barriers were lifted the price of motorcycles didn't go down. "The difference between pre-accession and post-accession tariff rates was very small so it didn't affect the price. Moreover, the changes in currency rates made the prices go up," explains the director of Suzuki Motor Poland's motorcycle section, Paweł Iwanicki.
Buying new
The higher prices didn't have that much of an effect on sales of new motorcycles, as there was no massive influx of used vehicles as in the case of cars. The sales director of Mitsui Motor Poland, Robert Domański, said that people are more reluctant to buy used motorcycles than used cars, mainly for security reasons.
However, the increase in prices had a tremendous impact on the scooter and moped market. Here the reputable, original brands suffered heavily with Yamaha sales of 50cc vehicles falling by nearly 50 percent and Suzuki suffering tremendous losses with nearly six times less units sold. But Iwanicki said: "We expected our sales to plummet. We were ready for it, so financially we didn't suffer. We are not trying to compete with cheap Chinese products on the 50cc market." He quickly added that Suzuki has concentrated on the big bikes and saw its sales increase in comparison to 2003.
Can do better
Market leader Yamaha meanwhile can't call 2004 their best year in Poland. Although their total was the best result of all producers it was still lower than the 2003 tally. Apart from the weaker złoty in the course of 2004, Domański blames the VAT tax rate in Poland for higher prices. "With operating costs being pretty much similar in Poland and Germany, our VAT of 22 percent makes the difference when compared to Germany's 17 percent," he said.
However, both importers are optimistic when asked about the perspectives for 2005. "We have seen a rise in sales this year due to lower prices caused by the strengthening of złoty in relation to the euro," Domański said. Iwanicki is also optimistic: "We expect to have another year of growth," adding that he expects this year to be more stable, without a fluctuation of sales as was the case last year.
Fast market
Iwanicki also said that Mitsui Motors will continue the policy of unifying prices with the German market to prevent "buying excursions" across the border, which harmed many importers and caused them to resort to discount sales in the second half of the year.
Despite the rollercoaster year, both Domański and Iwanicki agree that the Polish market has a lot of untapped potential. The Mitsui Motor sales director sees the standard of life as the most important factor. He believes it may be possible for Poland to emulate the example set by Spain, which is currently enjoying the fastest-growing motorcycle market in the world.
Rain halts play
He also views Poland's weather conditions as detrimental to the growth of the market. However, Iwanicki claims that the weather isn't that much of a factor when one compares the appetite for two-wheeled transport demonstrated by Sweden and UK. He points to the fact that for bikes up to 125cc a driver's license is needed in Poland while no such document is required in most EU nations. He suggests that another market barrier is the way Poles view motorcycles. "Motorcycles are still considered expensive toys," said Iwanicki.
Talk of the large potential of the Polish market seems to be proved by the recent move by British motorcycle giant Triumph, which after extensive research signed a distribution deal earlier this year with Poland's leading car-parts distribution company Inter Cars. The pair are now offering the whole range of 14 Triumph bikes in Poland for those who want to feel the wind in their hair and don't mind the rain.
Michał Pakulniewicz
Yamaha remained the market leader with 846 units sold, followed by Honda with 804 and Suzuki with 579. Harley Davidson sold 149 motorbikes last year, BMW 134 and Kawasaki motorcycles found 125 owners, according to the figures provided by Mitsui Motor Poland.
Sales skid
However, it must be pointed out that sales in the first four months of the year were unusually high and contributed significantly to the better end-year result. More than 45 percent, 1,260 units, were sold before Poland's accession to the EU compared to 984 in the same period of 2003.
After May 1 when all trade barriers were lifted the price of motorcycles didn't go down. "The difference between pre-accession and post-accession tariff rates was very small so it didn't affect the price. Moreover, the changes in currency rates made the prices go up," explains the director of Suzuki Motor Poland's motorcycle section, Paweł Iwanicki.
Buying new
The higher prices didn't have that much of an effect on sales of new motorcycles, as there was no massive influx of used vehicles as in the case of cars. The sales director of Mitsui Motor Poland, Robert Domański, said that people are more reluctant to buy used motorcycles than used cars, mainly for security reasons.
However, the increase in prices had a tremendous impact on the scooter and moped market. Here the reputable, original brands suffered heavily with Yamaha sales of 50cc vehicles falling by nearly 50 percent and Suzuki suffering tremendous losses with nearly six times less units sold. But Iwanicki said: "We expected our sales to plummet. We were ready for it, so financially we didn't suffer. We are not trying to compete with cheap Chinese products on the 50cc market." He quickly added that Suzuki has concentrated on the big bikes and saw its sales increase in comparison to 2003.
Can do better
Market leader Yamaha meanwhile can't call 2004 their best year in Poland. Although their total was the best result of all producers it was still lower than the 2003 tally. Apart from the weaker złoty in the course of 2004, Domański blames the VAT tax rate in Poland for higher prices. "With operating costs being pretty much similar in Poland and Germany, our VAT of 22 percent makes the difference when compared to Germany's 17 percent," he said.
However, both importers are optimistic when asked about the perspectives for 2005. "We have seen a rise in sales this year due to lower prices caused by the strengthening of złoty in relation to the euro," Domański said. Iwanicki is also optimistic: "We expect to have another year of growth," adding that he expects this year to be more stable, without a fluctuation of sales as was the case last year.
Fast market
Iwanicki also said that Mitsui Motors will continue the policy of unifying prices with the German market to prevent "buying excursions" across the border, which harmed many importers and caused them to resort to discount sales in the second half of the year.
Despite the rollercoaster year, both Domański and Iwanicki agree that the Polish market has a lot of untapped potential. The Mitsui Motor sales director sees the standard of life as the most important factor. He believes it may be possible for Poland to emulate the example set by Spain, which is currently enjoying the fastest-growing motorcycle market in the world.
Rain halts play
He also views Poland's weather conditions as detrimental to the growth of the market. However, Iwanicki claims that the weather isn't that much of a factor when one compares the appetite for two-wheeled transport demonstrated by Sweden and UK. He points to the fact that for bikes up to 125cc a driver's license is needed in Poland while no such document is required in most EU nations. He suggests that another market barrier is the way Poles view motorcycles. "Motorcycles are still considered expensive toys," said Iwanicki.
Talk of the large potential of the Polish market seems to be proved by the recent move by British motorcycle giant Triumph, which after extensive research signed a distribution deal earlier this year with Poland's leading car-parts distribution company Inter Cars. The pair are now offering the whole range of 14 Triumph bikes in Poland for those who want to feel the wind in their hair and don't mind the rain.
Michał Pakulniewicz
