Sales of new motorcycles and quadrucycles have trumped the overwhelming success of the new car market, with sales rising by almost 45 per cent in the first six months of the year.

Sales of new motorcycles and quadricycles have trumped the overwhelming success of the new car market, with sales rising by almost 45 per cent in the first six months of the year.

Sales are up from 13 070 in the corresponding period during 2004 to 18 897 units this year, and the Association of Motorcycle Importers and Distributors (Amid) says it anticipates even more growth in the second half of the year.

New passenger car sales for the year-to-date were up almost 30 per cent compared with the same period in 2005, according to the latest Naamsa figures.

The national director of Amid, André van Rooyen, told that new motorcycle and quad models had contributed significantly to the strong growth experienced in the sector recently.

Van Rooyen said the sales could top last year's figures, which were the best by the market for the past 18 years.

He also said his organisation was aware of new importers and distributors introducing their models in South Africa, but indicated that Amid did not necessarily monitor their activity. Van Rooyen estimated that Amid's members accounted for about 80 per cent of the sales in the motorcycle and quad market.

Amid figures revealed that there had been an almost 126 per cent increase in scooter sales in the first half of the year compared with the corresponding period last year.

According to Van Rooyen, commuters and school children were being targeted for scooter sales. He added that the high sales were related to the high cost of fuel and the fuel efficiency of these scooters.

Figures also showed that retail sales of motorcycles rose by almost 32 per cent from 6 803 units up until June 2004, to 8 971 units for the same period this year.

The quad sector also continued to grow at a healthy rate, with year-to-date sales reflecting an increase of more than 58 per cent to 9 926 units. The recreational quad sector experienced growth of more than 68 per cent in the same period.

Original article from Car