Motorbike sales continue to increase

Analysts began warning of the downward trend in motorbike sales some years ago, saying that the development of public means of transport would make motorbikes less attractive. 

However, motorbike sales in the first nine months of the year still grew by 3.7 percent, which shows demand is still high. The domestic motorbike market remains hot, having expanded by 13 times in the last 20 years

The latest report of the Vietnam Association of Motorbike Manufacturers (VAMM) showed that 2,452,102 products made by five member companies, namely Honda Vietnam, Piaggio Vietnam, Suzuki Vietnam, SYM Vietnam and Yamaha Motor Vietnam, were sold in the first nine months of the year, which almost reached the record high of 3.2 million products in 2012.

Honda Kuong Ngan sales agent in Hanoi on October 31 was crowded with buyers. A salesman said the business was better than the same period last year. The agent sells 1,000 products a month; the bestseller is Honda Wave Alpha.

“People still want to drive motorbikes because there are still too many problems in infrastructure. The roads are small, so a motorbike is a better choice than car,” he said.

The city authorities plan to prohibit motorbikes to enter inner districts, commencing from 2030. However, people still buy motorbikes to serve their travel demand.

An analyst commented that with improved income, cars are becoming affordable for more Vietnamese. However, many are still reluctant to use cars because of the lack of parking areas and poor infrastructure.

At Yamaha Town at No 62 Nguyen Chi Thanh street, a salesman said Yamaha Exciter is the bestseller. Yamaha Sirius and Jupiter, two gear-motorbike models, still sell well.

Tran Huu Minh, deputy chief secretariat of the National Traffic Safety Committee, said motorbikes are still favored thanks to the flexibility and efficiency.

The research in 2013-2017 also pointed out that many families still buy motorbikes though they have cars, because motorbikes are useful and convenient.

Vu Anh Tuan from Viet Duc Transport Research Center said that 70 percent of Vietnamese would still use motorbikes as the major means of transport by 2030. 

A survey on 4,300 households in six provinces/cities found that motorbikes will still be necessary for all families of different income levels. In Hanoi and HCM City, the public transport system can satisfy only 8-10 percent of travel demand.

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