Retail sales and production of motorcycles in Brazil both increased by 18% in 2022, according to survey results released last month by the Brazilian Association of Motorcycle, Moped, Scooter, Bicycle and Similar Manufacturers. Improvements were largely due to the segment resuming growth after a rough initial two months last year attributed to COVID-19 pandemic impacts.
The association said its survey found that registrations of new motorcycle increased to 1.4 million in 2022, compared to 1.2 million in 2021. That’s the best result in eight years, according to the association’s historical data.
Among two-wheeler categories, street was the most licensed, with 686,807 units – up 22% from 2021 – and a 50.4% market share.
“The factories prioritized the production of this model to meet the high demand, mainly influenced by the large professional use,” the association noted. Trail motorbikes accounted for 19% at 256,468 units – a 7% increase. Motoneta, a type of scooter category, grew 24% to 204,435 units last year, accounting for 15% of the market. The general scooter category’s sales reached 121,586 units, a 13% increase, and took 9% of the market.
The association projected that this year just under 1.5 million motorcycles will be licensed, for about a 9% increase from 2022.
Manufacturers installed in Brazil’s Polo Industrial de Manaus area – which accounts for nearly all motorcycle manufacturing in the country – also produced 1.4 million motorcycles last year, compared to 1.2 million in 2021.
For 2023, the association projects production of about 1.5 million motorcycles, up about 10% from assembly lines production last year.
The 2022 numbers prove the resumption of growth in the segment after facing a challenging first two months of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic that once again hit the city of Manaus, Marcos Fermanian, president of the association – known as Abraciclo – noted in a press release. “After that, the pace of production grew month after month to serve the consumer who started to use the motorcycle as a work tool, avoid crowding on public transport or have greater agility and mobility in urban centers,” he explained.
Motorcycle exports totaled 55,338 units in 2022, a 4% increase from the previous year. The association said its analysis of a survey by the foreign trade statistics portal Comex Stat, which records total shipments each month, indicated Colombia was the main destination, with 15,686 units and 28% of the exported volume. In second place was Argentina (13,538 motorcycles and 24% of exports), followed by the United States (12,211 units and 22%).