The global motorcycle export market is huge, worth a whopping US$43.1 billion in 2022. This industry has grown a lot, with exports going up by 50.9% since 2018¹. The top five countries – Mainland China, Germany, Japan, Thailand, and India – make up 56.6% of all motorcycle exports in 2022¹.

The Largest Motorcycle Exporters in the World 2023

Asia leads with exports worth $26.1 billion, making up 60.6% of global sales. Europe follows with 36%, and North America with 2.7%¹.

Key Takeaways

• Global motorcycle exports reached a staggering $43.1 billion in 2022, up 4.1% from 2021.
• The top 5 motorcycle exporters – China, Germany, Japan, Thailand, and India – account for 56.6% of total international sales.
• Asia dominates the motorcycle export market, accounting for $26.1 billion or 60.6% of global shipments.
• The top 15 exporting countries shipped 90.6% of all motorcycles globally in 2022.
• Vietnam, Taiwan, Spain, and Austria were the fastest-growing motorcycle exporters since 2021.

China: Reigning Supreme in Motorcycle Exports

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China leads the world in motorcycle exports, with a huge $12 billion or 27.8% of all exported motorcycles in 2022². Even though exports dropped by 2.9% from 2021, China still tops the list as the biggest motorcycle exporter².

Massive Production and Export Volume

China’s success in the motorcycle market shows its strong manufacturing and economic strategies. It can make lots of high-quality, affordable motorcycles. This makes China a top choice for buyers around the world². Chinese brands are now big players, offering a wide range of motorcycles to meet different needs and tastes.

Key Chinese Motorcycle Brands

Big names like Baotian Motorcycle Company are well-known for their reliable and affordable bikes². Other big names include Lifan, Zongshen, and Loncin. They’ve grown their global presence, helping China lead in motorcycle exports.

“China’s motorcycle exports have become a crucial component of the country’s overall trade strategy, reflecting its commitment to providing affordable and accessible transportation solutions to consumers worldwide.”

Germany: Engineering Excellence on Two Wheels

Germany is a big name in motorcycle exports, sending out $3.3 billion worth of bikes in 2022. This was a slight drop from the year before³. The country is famous for its top-notch motorcycle engineering. Brands like BMW Motorrad are leading the charge.

BMW Motorrad is a big deal in the motorcycle world. It’s part of the famous German car brand. Over the years, they’ve made over 1.8 million bikes in Berlin-Spandau. They hit the 100,000 mark in 1975 and the 1 million mark in 1992⁴.

But it’s not just the big names in Germany’s motorcycle scene. Smaller companies like Murtfeldt Kunststoffe GmbH & Co. KG in Dortmund have been innovating for over 60 years. They have almost 400 employees across Europe³.

German engineering isn’t just about making bikes. It’s also about making key parts. Lightweight, in Friedrichshafen, has been making the lightest and stiffest motorcycle wheels since 1995. They keep improving them for better performance³.

The German motorcycle industry thrives on innovation, quality, and engineering skill. This makes it a big player worldwide⁵.

Japan: The Iconic Motorcycle Powerhouse

Japan has been a key player in the global motorcycle scene for decades, known for its excellence⁶. In 1951, they started strong with over 11,000 motorcycles made, setting the stage for their success⁶. By 1959, they hit a major milestone, producing 1,000,000 units⁶.

Japanese Motorcycle Giants

The “big four” – Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki – have made a huge impact⁶. Honda’s Super Cub played a big part in growing the industry, becoming a huge hit in Japan⁶. These brands have not only dominated their home market but also become top exporters, meeting global demand for quality and innovation⁷.

Japanese brands have also shone in motorsports⁶. Honda made its mark in the Isle of Man TT in 1959, finishing well in their category⁶. They’ve organized various races to boost brand awareness and show off their engineering skills⁶.

Over the years, Japanese motorcycles have kept setting new standards in innovation and performance⁶. The Honda CB750, launched in 1969, was a big hit, reaching speeds of 125 mph⁶. Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki followed with their own groundbreaking models, focusing on speed and performance⁶. In the 21st century, they’ve introduced models like the Yamaha R6 and Kawasaki KLR650, continuing to impress riders worldwide⁶.

Japan’s motorcycle industry has made a lasting impact globally, with its iconic brands and innovative products⁸. After World War II, focusing on cars and motorcycles was a smart move, leading to success⁸. Today, Japanese motorcycles are known for their quality, performance, and value, keeping them at the top of the motorcycle world⁸.

Thailand: Emerging Motorcycle Export Hub

Thailand is now a big name in the global thailand motorcycle industry. It’s the fourth-biggest exporter of motorcycles worldwide. In 2022, it sent out $3 billion worth of motorcycles, a 3.6% jump from the year before⁹. Its key location and strong manufacturing skills make it a top spot for making and exporting motorcycles.

The Thai motorcycle market is lively, with many local and international brands doing well. From January to May 2024, Thailand sold 771,685 new bikes, which was 6.2% less than the same time last year¹⁰. The electric vehicle (EV) L1 category saw a big jump of 80.1%, but the L3 segment had a 12.2% drop in sales¹⁰.

Big names like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, BMW, Triumph, and Ducati lead the Thai motorcycle scene⁹. They’ve set up shops in Thailand to take advantage of its good location for exporting motorcycles⁹. Domestic brands like Felo, Lion, and EM are also making a mark, showing Thailand’s growing tech skills in the thailand motorcycle exporters field.

Thailand’s motorcycle industry has some hurdles, like the NESDC cutting its growth forecast for 2024 to 2.2%–2.7%¹⁰. Yet, it’s still a big player in the global thailand motorcycle exporters market, with a production capacity of 3 million units yearly⁹.

“The Felo TOOZ electric motorcycle, shown at the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show, highlights Thailand’s tech progress in motorcycles. It has cool features like high connectivity, multimedia, and surround sound, showing the country’s electric motorcycle skills.”

India: The Largest Motorcycle Exporters in the World

India has become a key player in the motorcycle industry, making it one of the top motorcycle exporters globally¹¹. In June 2024, the country sold 1.66 million motorcycles, showing a 22.4% increase from before¹¹. By 2024, India sold 9.7 million motorcycles, with a 20.6% increase from the start of the year¹¹.

Major Indian Motorcycle Manufacturers

India is home to top motorcycle brands, playing a big role in its export success¹². Hero MotoCorp leads the market, especially in the sub-125cc segment, holding 65% of the market share¹². They rely mostly on domestic production, with imports making up just 5% of their sales¹².

TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto, and Suzuki are also major players, showing strong growth¹¹. TVS Motor saw a big jump in iQube electric scooter sales and its Raider 125 model, reaching 1.61 million units sold in 2024¹¹. Bajaj Auto sold 1.08 million units, up 13.2%, and Suzuki hit a record in India with 484,230 sales, a 24.5% increase¹¹.

Honda saw a 52.5% increase, reaching 2.5 million sales in 2024¹¹, and Royal Enfield sold 416,235 units, up 4.3%¹¹. Yamaha also grew by 26.5%, selling 364,051 units¹¹.

The Indian motorcycle industry is booming, thanks to the country’s economic growth, strong demand, and innovative manufacturers¹¹¹². As the market grows, Indian motorcycle exporters are set to increase their global impact.

Italy: Style and Performance on the Global Stage

Italy is a big name in motorcycle exports, ranking sixth globally. In 2022, it exported $2.43 billion worth of motorcycles, a jump of 11.4% from the year before¹³. This success comes from its famous motorcycle brands like Ducati, which mix style with performance perfectly.

The Italian motorcycle industry is known for its engineering skills and understanding of what riders want¹⁴. Brands like Ducati, Aprilia, and Moto Guzzi are loved for their eye-catching designs and exciting rides.

The strength of italian motorcycle exporters comes from their focus on new ideas and advanced tech¹⁴. They’re always improving their engines, adding the latest electronics, and enhancing aerodynamics. This keeps them at the top of the motorcycle world.

Italian motorcycle brands are also quick to adapt to new market trends¹⁴. They’re embracing digital changes, electric bikes, and connected driving. This keeps their products interesting to today’s riders.

Italy’s success in exporting motorcycles shows its deep love for bikes, its engineering skills, and its focus on style and performance¹³. As the motorcycle world changes, italian motorcycle exporters and italian motorcycle brands are set to lead the way.

The table shows some of the latest motorcycle models and their specs from around the world¹⁵.

Emerging Players in Motorcycle Exports

The global motorcycle industry has seen big names like China, Japan, and India lead for a long time. But now, new players are making their mark. Vietnam and Taiwan are becoming big names, thanks to their growing exports and tech skills.

Vietnam’s Rising Presence

Vietnam’s motorcycle exports have jumped a lot lately. In 2022, they went up by 19.1%, hitting $1.4 billion¹⁶. This growth is thanks to better manufacturing, good infrastructure, and making bikes that people in new markets want.

Taiwan’s Technological Prowess

In East Asia, Taiwan is also making a big impact in motorcycle exports. In 2022, their exports went up by 16.1%, reaching $1.8 billion¹⁶. This is thanks to their tech advances, new designs, and quality making, letting them stand up to big names in the industry.

Vietnam and Taiwan are changing the game in the motorcycle world. They’re investing in their factories, coming up with new tech, and making deals with other companies. This will help them become even bigger players in the future.

These new exporters are changing the motorcycle market. They’re challenging the old leaders and giving buyers more choices¹⁷. As the motorcycle world keeps changing, Vietnam, Taiwan, and others will be key in shaping its future¹⁶¹⁷.

The United States: A Heavyweight in Motorcycle Imports

The United States is a major player in the global motorcycle import scene. In 2022, the country’s motorcycle trade deficit hit $4.4 billion, a 55.6% increase from the year before¹⁸. This shows how big the demand for motorcycles is in the US, which the domestic industry can’t quite meet¹⁸.

Harley-Davidson leads the US motorcycle market, owning 56% of the large motorcycle segment¹⁸¹⁹. Yet, this success hasn’t been enough to fulfill the nation’s need for motorcycles. So, the US relies heavily on motorcycles from other countries¹⁸¹⁹.

The US motorcycle industry has faced hurdles like tariffs and trade barriers. In 1983, a 45% tariff was put on heavy motorcycles coming into the US to protect the domestic industry²⁰. This tariff, which decreased over time, greatly affected the industry. Harley-Davidson’s share of the market over 1000cc motorcycles fell from 100% to less than 15%²⁰.

Despite these hurdles, the US is still a key market for motorcycle makers worldwide. Japan is the US’s second-biggest market for motorcycle exports, but big motorcycles face challenges there¹⁹. The European Union also has high tariffs on motorcycles, which the US is trying to change through WTO talks¹⁹.

The US motorcycle industry is changing, and it will likely keep being a big importer of motorcycles. The mix of domestic production, trade policies, and what consumers want will shape the future of the US motorcycle industry¹⁸¹⁹²⁰.

Conclusion

The global motorcycle export market is led by a few top countries. China, Germany, Japan, Thailand, and India are at the forefront. They use their strong manufacturing, tech, and brand names to stay ahead in the motorcycle trade²¹.

New players like Vietnam and Taiwan are also making a big impact²². The top motorcycle exporters keep innovating to meet what buyers want. This makes the global motorcycle market always changing, full of new chances and challenges²¹.

The leading motorcycle exporting countries show how important it is to be strategic, have good manufacturing, and a strong brand. As the motorcycle industry grows, being able to use new trends and tech will help stay ahead in the global motorcycle export market²²²¹.

Source Links

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