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Motorcycles and Scooters - UK

Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

Published: Jul. 1, 2008 - 97 Pages


Table of Contents


Issues in the Market


Main issues

Definition

Abbreviations



Market in Brief

Market bounces back

Plenty of potential

Versatility back in fashion

Safety and licensing issues holding back sales?

‘Big three’ continue to dominate

Innovation focuses on safety and convenience

Promotional strategy shifts

Generally positive sentiments towards motorcycling



Internal Market Environment

Key points

Existing levels of ownership

Figure 1: Own new or second hand

Buying new

Figure 2: Bought new in the last 12 months, 2007

Road safety: The biggest turn-off

Figure 3: Road casualty rates* for vehicles, 1994-2006

Figure 4: Road casualty statistics for motorcycles, 2003-07

Licensing: fundamental changes

New test centres to cause backlog?

Further licensing changes in prospect

EU emission standards

Media coverage: racing proves the breed but does it sell bikes?

Low running costs brought into focus…

Figure 5: Trends in the average price of unleaded 95 octane fuel in the UK, 2003-08

…and not just fuel savings either

Cheaper to buy, too

Seasonality

Motorcycle magazines

Figure 6: Total average net circulation per issue (United Kingdom and RoI) of leading motorcycle and car magazines, Jan-December 2007



Broader Market Environment

Key points

Spending power on the up…

Figure 7: Trends in personal disposable income and consumer expenditure, 2003-13

A more affluent population

Figure 8: Forecast adult population trends, by socio-economic group, 2003-13

Age trends: A mixed blessing?

Figure 9: Trends in the age structure of the UK population, by gender, 2003-13



Competitive Context

Key points

Spending on personal transport

Figure 10: Personal transport trends at current prices, 2003-07

Two wheels compare very favourably with four and public transport

Other spending priorities

Figure 11: Expenditure priorities, 2007 and 2008

Competition from bicycles

Figure 12: Positive attitudes towards bicycles, 2005 and 2007



Strengths and Weaknesses in the Market


Strengths

Low running costs

Agility and convenience

Environmentally attractive

Affordability

Sensory stimulation

Weaknesses

Safety perceptions

Credit crunch vulnerability?

Comfort issues

Lack of appeal to women and shorter people

The poor man’s alternative?



Market Size and Forecast

Key points

Strong and steady growth for over the longer term

Figure 13: Retail sales/new registrations of motorcycles and scooters, 2003-13

Has the market turned a corner?

Figure 14: New registrations of two-wheeled vehicles, by type, 2003-07

Value has grown faster than volume

Figure 15: Average price per vehicle, at current and constant prices, 2003-07

Early signs for current year looking positive

Future looks bright as fuel prices rise and congestion worsens

Transport policy could still tip the balance

Manufacturers have huge role to play



Segment Performance

Key points

Registrations by type

Figure 16: New motorcycle registrations, by type, 2003-07

Supersports: still biggest sector but for how long?

UK gets naked

Scooters: in tune with the times

Moped scooters: a victim of their own quality?

Other mopeds on the up once more

Trail/enduro under pressure

Adventure/sport boosted by TV inspiration

Sport/touring feels the pinch

Custom capitalises on higher living standards and city bonuses

Touring sector grows on coat-tails of adventure sport success

Registrations by engine size

Figure 17: New motorcycle registrations, by engine size, 2003-07

Market polarises by engine size

Motorcycles in use by engine size

Figure 18: Two-wheeled vehicles in use, by engine size, 2001-07

Average engine size increasing



Market Share

Key points

Manufacturer share of new registrations

Figure 19: Manufacturer shares of the UK motorcycle and scooter market, by number of new registrations, 2005-07

Gap narrows at the top

Piaggio best of European manufacturers

Peugeot sales slide

Triumph maintaining domestic pride

Market continues to be dominated by imports

Figure 20: Value of imports and exports of motorcycles, 2003-07



Brand Communication and Promotion

Key points

Main media advertising slips back in 2007

Figure 21: Advertising spend on motorcycles by advertiser, 2004-08

Spend by media type

Figure 22: advertising spend by media type, 2004-08

Press activity dominates

0% finance to the fore in the credit crunch

Racing: A constant part of the mix



Companies and Products

Key points

Leading players’ dealerships

Figure 23: Number of motorcycle and scooter dealerships, by manufacturer, 2005-07

Honda (UK) Ltd

Suzuki GB plc

Yamaha Motor UK Ltd

Piaggio Ltd

Kawasaki Motors UK

Peugeot (Three Cross Motorcycles Ltd)

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd

Harley-Davidson UK

BMW (UK) Ltd

KTM-Sportmotorcycle UK Ltd

Other players



What is the Extent of Usage of Motorcycles and Scooters?

Key points

Motorcycle usage

Figure 24: Motorcycle and scooter usage, April 2008

Opportunity knocks

Figure 25: Motorcycle and scooter usage, by detailed demographics, April 2008

Who rides at the moment?

Who are the lapsed riders?

Figure 26: Motorcycle and scooter usage, lapsed riders, April 2008

Who are the potential riders?

Figure 27: Motorcycle and scooter usage, potential riders, April 2008

Who is set against riding?

Figure 28: Motorcycle and scooter usage, set against riding, April 2008



What Consumers Look for in a Bike

Key points

Most popular features

Figure 34: What motorcyclists look for in a new bike, April 2008

Practical considerations paramount

Emotional aspects still important

Figure 35: What motorcyclists look for in a new bike, by gender, April 2008

Figure 36: What motorcyclists look for in a new bike, by age, April 2008

Average buyer looks for 2.9 features

Figure 37: What motorcyclists look for in a new bike, by number of features cited, April 2008



Which Factors are more Likely to Prompt Consumers to Buy a Bike?

Key points

Figure 38: Positive and negative factors impacting on motorycles and scooters, april 2008

Congestion and parking are a big plus

Figure 39: Factors which consumers viewed as having a positive impact in their perceptions of motorcycles and scooters, for 45-54-year-olds, April 2008

Safety measures reassure potential bikers

Established bikers provide positive word of mouth

Figure 40: Factors impacting on motorycles and scooters, by gender, April 2008



How aware are Riders and Potential Riders of the New Motorcycle Test?

Key point

Overall levels of awareness are low

Figure 41: Knowledge of new motorcycle proficiency test, by detailed demographics, April 2008

Although awareness is higher amongst men



Appendix - Motorcycle and Scooter Usage

Figure 49: Motorcycle and scooter usage, by detailed demographics, April 2008



Appendix - What Motorcyclists Look for in a New Bike

Figure 54: What motorcyclists look for in a new bike, by detailed demographics, April 2008

Figure 55: What motorcyclists look for in a new bike, by detailed demographics, April 2008



Appendix - Factors Impacting on Motorcycles and Scooters

Figure 56: Factors impacting positively on motorycles and scooters, by detailed demographics, April 2008



Appendix - Knowledge of New Motorcycle Proficiency Test

Figure 57: Knowledge of new motorcycle proficiency test, by detailed demographics, April 2008

Abstract

Registrations of new motorcycles boomed in 2007 after several flat years. Rising fuel prices and increased road congestion are two factors contributing to this. Media coverage has also inspired more people to look at a two-wheeler as a tool for adventure and fun.

The market continues to be led by the high-performance supersports models, but there are signs of polarisation, with strong growth at the bottom end of the market, with small capacity bikes targeting the commuter sector, while sales of more versatile adventure sports machines outstripped the rest of the market, growing by almost one third in 2007. The market remains very male-dominated, with safety issues being of major concern to potential female buyers, so the challenge for manufacturers and government in the next five years is to further reduce casualty numbers and make motorcycling a safer and more attractive alternative to other forms of transport.

This report examines the market for all powered two-wheelers, including motorcycles and scooters. It considers the factors driving or restricting demand, looks at annual trends in registrations, by type of machine and engine size, profiles the major players in the market and assesses consumer attitudes towards a variety of different aspects of motorcycling.

It considers the hypothesis that ‘although short term factors such as fuel prices may give registrations a lift, in order to significantly expand the market for motorcycles in the long term, manufacturers and government will need to work together to address safety concerns and try to further reduce the casualty rate.’

Main themes of the report:

  • How new regulations affecting rider testing will affect demand for motorcycles and scooters in the future.
  • The impact of the credit crunch and how manufacturers are responding to it.
  • What will the new motorcycle and scooter buyer look like in the future?
  • With the increasingly congested roads, especially in and surrounding cities, can motorcycles target the consumer looking to ‘beat the traffic’ more effectively?
  • As we are increasingly concerned about green issues and car exhausts, can motorcycles effectively position themselves in consumer mindsets as an eco-friendly drive?
  • In a male-dominated market, can the biking industry ‘do a Nintendo’ (attracting female gamers with the Wii) and make biking a more attractive, relevant, form of transport for women?



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