By 2010, China and India will produce a combined total of 36 million motorcycles per year. Let me repeat that, … 36 MILLION motorcycles PER YEAR!
That number was buried in a news item this morning about a new microcontroller chip for motorcycle engine management systems. These chips precisely control the fuel/air mixture, ignition and who knows what else to keep the engine running at its most efficient while creating the least pollution. The chips are needed, the article stated, because of the growing number of motorcycles being produced and purchased in China and India. It went on:
China and India, the world’s largest motorcycle markets, are also developing tougher emission control standards for vehicles in the upcoming years, driving the need for cost-effective electronic engine management systems. Indian companies expect to manufacture 15 million two wheelers a year by 2010, up from 6.7 million in 2005, while China expects to make 21 million two wheelers a year in 2010, up from about 17 million in 2005.
Does anyone else find that statistic mind boggling? Those kinds of numbers mean the motorcycles will be a cheap throwaway, used by one person and not worth repairing when they break. If they were to last longer, the market, no matter how large you think it might be, would soon be flooded and the companies producing these little machines would have to find something else to do. If they were expensive, they would not be able to find enough buyers. And, too, this does not include Japanese, Italian, German or U.S. motorcycles.
The overwhelming majority of motorcycles in China and India are the very small displacement variety. If you’re unclear as to why many manufacturers concentrate on larger bikes, re-read that first sentence.
Link: CNN
ezrider says
Remember, the combined population of China and India is about 2 BILLION. And no, the motorcycles are certainly not cheap- its a major investment for any indian and they are constantly repaired and used untill they literally fall to pieces. The reason for the need for all these motorcycles is this: Half of india’s population is under 25! Thats 500 million people! And bikes have always been preferred to cars on thos congested roads ( cars are too expensive for most indians anyway).
Ricky says
But you know what, they don’t have to export ANY of those to find a market for them. 1.3 billion chinese people need to have something to ride, and I don’t think harley’s gonna be able to make enough scoots. They won’t be any more disposable than Kymco…
kneeslider says
China and India certainly have huge populations but those motorcycles are not just for domestic consumption. An article I wrote back in January of 2006 already noted that China had been, at that time, the number one exporter of motorcycles for 5 years in a row. It’s probably 6 years now. They have come to dominate many of the Asian motorcycle markets, pushing out the Japanese and there are a lot of Chinese motorcycles already being sold in the U.S.
todd says
I think that means prices will be going down… or at least dealers will start having greater margins. Building that many things is usually a positive thing for manufacturers. Quantities like this mean more sophisticated machinery, more efficient production, and greater chance to find flaws and improve.
Since most components and even whole engines from all manufacturers come from China it’s inevitable that kind of growing experience will benefit our products as well.
-todd
Tanshanomi says
Remember when you could pick up a used CB125 in nice condition for $150.00? In the late ’70s and early 80s, lightweight bikes were (not quite literally) a dime a dozen. Looking through the classifieds nowadays, nearly all you’ll find are big bikes with comparatively big price tags, even for the ratty ones.
In another generation, will cheap little bikes be all over the place again?
Jeff says
http://dflong.en.alibaba.com/product/50175512/50263239/Motorcycles/Motorcycle.html
Jeff says
India ,http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/12211389/Motorcycles.html
Phoebe says
I lived in S. Korea for a year teaching English, and the situation there was largely the same…tons of 125cc bikes powered by either Suzuki or Honda singles. Part of the reason for the ubiquity of the 125cc bikes was because a heavy tariff was placed on anything larger than that. I saw very few larger bikes there.
Most of these 125s were used as workhorses, making deliveries ranging from pizza to furniture (nope, not kidding). The bikes got a bit ratty, but they definitely hung on to them as long as they possibly could. When they were new, they were actually not bad bikes! They’d be great starter bikes.
OMMAG says
What goes around comes around….
The big numbers are a bit of a shock …. but put in perspective the number of little Hondas and Suzukis etc that got sold here in the 60’s….. put the domestic and Euro imports into a very small position.
As I recall my highschool … the street had about 50 to 60 bike parked in 67 …. there was 2 BSA’s 2 Triumphs 1 Enfield 1 Bultaco and the rest were Yamahas Hondas Suzukis Bridgestones Kawasakis etc.
RH says
Honda, etc…., succeeded by providing vastly better performance and reliability than the established makers. The Chinese are providing vastly worse performance and reliability. They only succeed in markets that have nothing better to choose from – we don’t have that problem. Yet.
Prester John says
Look at the 2006 EPA Certification list of companies who have paid the $$$ and gone through homologation.
Taizhou Chuaml, Luoyang Northern Ek Chor, Guangzhou Payu Huanan, Jinan Qingqi, Chongqing HiBird, Jiangmen Sino-Hongkong Baotian, Ahejiang Lingyun, Jiajngsu Linhai, Lifan, Zongshen and others.
The Chinese aren’t coming. The Chinese are here.
Tom