Big four Japanese manufacturers Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki, have temporarily suspended their motorcycle production.
Honda
“As a production adjustment due to a decrease in motorcycle sales in Europe, we plan to suspend production of” Kumamoto Seisakusho motorcycle line “from April 13 to April 14 (2 working days)”
Source: Corresponding to the new coronavirus | Honda
For more information, please visit the Honda page.
Yamaha
“8 working days from May 1 to May 19 except GW leave and weekends.”
Kawasaki
“Kawasaki Heavy Industries will suspend domestic production of motorcycles as follows to adjust output due to the sales decrease in significant countries due to the spread of new coronavirus infection.
Office: Akashi Factory (Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture)
Period: Monday, April 13-Wednesday, May 6 * Holiday from April 29 to May 6″.
Source: Temporary suspension of domestic production of motorcycles | News | Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
For more information, please visit Kawasaki’s page.
Suzuki
“Also, regarding the factory operation after April 20 (Monday), we will make a new judgment after carefully examining the situation.”
Quotation source: Operation of domestic plants after April 6 due to the spread of new coronavirus infection | Suzuki
For details, please visit the Suzuki page. Quotation source: Production base / Domestic production base ｜ Suzuki. Suzuki has only two motorcycles at the Hamamatsu plant.
Summary of the suspension period of four domestic manufacturers
- Honda: April 13-April 14 (2 days)
- Yamaha: May 1 to May 19 (8 days)
- Kawasaki: April 13-May 6 (12 days)
- Suzuki: April 10 (1 day) (9 days for one work)
Excluding the first holidays, it is as above.
Kawasaki seems to be closed on Saturdays and Sundays. So we are not counting it (since I saw that the factory recruitment was closed on Saturdays and Sundays),
Suzuki has a full day off. We think it’s about half the working hours.
The production is dangerous, of course, but the new model is at risk, and the stores are struck.
Cut Production
“Manufacturers have begun to cut production and halt development for their current production.
The postponement is decided except for the rumored new models, which are almost confirmed to be released.
If this situation continues for more than half a year, it is going to freeze. It seems that it will be canceled in over a year.
If the impact of the new Corona worsens in Southeast Asia, the loss will be even more significant.
If the situation in North America or Europe does not improve, large motorcycles will be in trouble.
However, at this point, it is within the losses that manufacturers are thinking of.
The premise that this situation will continue.”
Expected the production to continue in May
“It seems that each manufacturer will produce a large-scale production in the motorcycle division such as large motorcycles in May 2020.
Some manufacturers are forecasting to surpass the Lehman shock and are currently in a system to make future plan changes.
The worst thing is with European manufacturers.
For BMW, Ducati, and KTM, the factory is in a state of operation suspension and line suspension, and the supply from suppliers is also behind, so the loss seems to be quite large.
Small manufacturers have fallen to the point where the worst possible bankruptcy is possible.
HARLEY in the United States has also been forced to stop production, and if this situation continues, it will be in a state of crisis again.”
“Japanese manufacturers can produce minimal domestic production, except for some, but the impact of Corona on exports is hit directly, and demand is expected to decline due to the economic downturn. Since then, it has been making a drastic move to reduce production.
The effects of Corona are beginning to become apparent in the motorcycle industry.
If this situation persists for a long time, even significant manufacturers should consider it dangerous.”
Production Adjustments
“In the first place, HONDA is carrying out production adjustments due to reduced demand.
Only a few parts of HONDA are having problems with production due to delays in importing parts from overseas.
Initially, for domestic and overseas production, HONDA had a strong tendency to make finished bikes in that country (including neighboring countries), so the effect of this Corona is less damage than other manufacturers.”
(SUZUKI seems to have delayed production in the first place, and delivery may be delayed even if the order is placed early. There is similar information in KAWASAKI. According to the source, it may be quite dangerous)
The ZX-25R seems to have a lot of postponements (although there was information that production has already started, it is unclear if it will come to the market).
“All events, shows in the motorcycle industry are expected to cancel this year, and the announcements of the new models are expected to be postponed.
Already, European manufacturers are making adjustments not to participate in this year’s events and shows (BMW has decided), and it seems likely that Intermoto and EICMA itself will be canceled.
There may be announcements of new models online, but I think there is a high possibility that the start of orders and the start of production will be postponed.
We feel once again that the situation is dangerous.”
As of Today
“Information is coming to us one after another, but there are more and more stories about postponement being canceled day by day.
Various rumors can be said to be levels blown away by the influence of Corona.
We are really in a bad situation at the level where the significant manufacturers agree.
Moreover, it is expected that dealers are more serious.
It is highly likely that dealers and chain stores, which had been in a difficult situation due to lack of manpower (shortage of motorcycle mechanics), will be put in a further predicament, and individual stores are likely to go bankrupt.
We think the situation will continue to be severe if it is not decided to establish a new corona treatment method or start vaccination at an early stage.
It will be pretty tricky this year.”
Summary
- A global decrease in production.
- Japanese manufacturers also have effects because they have vehicles and parts that are produced overseas.
- New models may be postponed, development stopped or frozen.
- The motor show is likely to be canceled (Intermoto and EICMA ).
- Dealers are in a difficult situation.
The retailer we are checking has closed too. The small retailer is at high risk.
By the way, BMW and KTM do not appear in EICMA or Intermoto. As of now, we are not sure of the other manufacturers.
As well as the CBR1000RR-R SP is likely to have a rather late delivery date.
It seems that some people will deliver the bike as scheduled.
Manufacturers cannot operate and they won’t be able to sell even if it is made, production is reduced. The number of people buying is cut.
So sales are reduced & manufacturers have already reduced the production so even if there is demand, vehicles cannot be sold.
It looks like it’s worse than we expected.
There are multiple rumors about new models at the moment, but with the general information, there are quite a lot of cases such as the cancellation or postponement of models.
