As pathetic as the 2013 motorcycle.

The only surprise in the Vietnamese motorcycle market and manufacturing industry last year was the dramatic decline in both actual purchasing power and production output.

2013 was considered one of the years when motorcycle manufacturers aggressively launched their newest products.

According to incomplete statistics, the total sales volume of motorcycles in 2013 reached only about 2.8 million units, a significant drop from the 3.1 million units sold in 2012. Even in 2012, sales had already decreased by 6.6% compared to the previous year. This means that the Vietnamese motorcycle market has experienced at least two consecutive years of decline, with signs of accelerating growth.

Speaking to reporters, representatives from most motorcycle manufacturers stated that production output was lower than the previous year and significantly below actual production capacity.

Several sources revealed that, in 2013, a very common situation among motorcycle manufacturers was that they had more than half of their production capacity in excess.

Honda, the car manufacturer with the largest market share, despite virtually no decrease in sales during the year, reaching approximately 1.9 million units, has faced a significant challenge in having to further postpone the commencement of operations at its new factory in Ha Nam until the end of the first quarter of 2014.

Other motorcycle manufacturers, from giants like Yamaha and Piaggio to smaller ones like Suzuki and SYM, are also experiencing over 50% excess capacity.

However, compared to imported cars, the woes of joint ventures and domestic manufacturers are nothing compared to what they've experienced.

According to a report by the General Department of Customs, only 18,866 complete motorcycles were imported into Vietnam in 2013, with a total value of nearly 42.3 million USD, a decrease of 49.5% in quantity and 40.3% in value compared to 2012.

Of course, from another perspective, the decrease in the import value of complete motorcycles is also a positive sign. Unlike automobiles, Vietnam is gradually asserting its leading position in the world motorcycle industry, so reducing imports will also be an opportunity to increase exports. The problem is that the sharp decline in import value last year has highlighted a larger issue: market size.

It's worth noting that in 2013 there were virtually no policy changes regarding this product. Meanwhile, motorcycles and cars are two product categories that typically show the most significant fluctuations in response to any changes.

A representative of a new motorcycle distributor in Vietnam stated that the recent slump in motorcycle sales is due to the economy not yet fully recovering, with difficulties still evident for businesses and the general public. However, this assessment seems inaccurate. If that were the case, it would be difficult to explain why, under the same economic circumstances, car sales increased by 19% compared to 2012.

Another possible reason could be that the products themselves lack appeal and new designs? That's even less likely, as 2013 was considered one of the years when motorcycle manufacturers aggressively launched new products. Honda launched the Lead 125, Air Blade 125 magnet, the new generation Vision, and the completely new SH Mode; Yamaha launched a new generation collection including Sirius, Luvias GTX, Exciter, Nouvo, Nozza, and Jupiter FI; and Piaggio released impressive, stylish models with impressive design and technology such as the Vespa LXV 3V ie, the new Liberty 3V ie, and by the end of the year, the Vespa Primavera and GTS Super...

Therefore, it seems there's only one more plausible reason to consider: the possibility that the market has reached saturation prematurely. And if this explanation is accurate, the Vietnamese motorcycle industry will be forced to immediately and decisively implement a strategy that is considered to be in line with its strengths and current trends: Exporting.

According to thoibaokinhte