Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/780450
28 • February 13, 2017 • Powersports Business MOTORCYCLE www.PowersportsBusiness.com Sales in Thailand (1,819 units, up 42.1 percent) and Japan (up 6.7 percent) were also well above the previous year. As before, Germany remains the biggest single market for BMW Motorrad. With 24,894 units sold, BMW Motorrad achieved growth of 4.5 percent and led the market as a whole. BMW Motorrad is also ahead of the field in the relevant BMW segment over 500cc capacity in Spain, Austria, Belgium, the Neth- erlands, Russia and South Africa. In the U.S. and Canada, BMW Motorrad achieved its sec- ond-best sales result to date with 13,730 units. That's down from 16,330 units sold in North America in 2015, or a 19 percent decrease. The top-selling BMW Motorrad series is traditionally the R series. Equipped with the hallmark BMW boxer engines, the share of sales achieved by these motorcycles in 2016 was 77,787 units, or 53.6 percent. The sporty BMW S models — the super- sports bike S 1000 RR, the power roadster S 1000 R and the adventure bike S 1000 XR — have developed into an additional pillar of strength within the BMW motorcycle range. A total of 23,686 S models were supplied world- wide. The share of these models in the total sales volume was 16.3 percent. The supersports motorcycle S 1000 RR (9,016 units, down 5.8 percent) and the adventure bike S 1000 XR (8,835 units, up 74.6 percent) are currently fourth and fifth in the BMW Motorrad ranking. In 2017, BMW Motorrad continues its model offensive with the widest range of motorcycles in the company's history. "We intend to remain the benchmark in the segment of premium motorcycles," Schaller said. "To this end we will continue to consis- tently pursue our model offensive in the BMW Motorrad segments of 310 to 1600cc capacity. For the 2017 season we will be offering our customers 14 new or revised models." The new G 310 GS is due to be launched in the second half of the year. Like the G 310 R does in the segment of BMW roadsters, the second model of the BMW G series transfers the hallmark features of the GS family into the new BMW segment below 500cc. The new K 1600 B is targeted specifically to the U.S. market. With the launch of the bagger, BMW Motorrad is extending the luxury segment with the in-line 6-cylinder engine to include a highly emotional and exclusive motorcycle. "In the years to come, the USA will be the second most important market for BMW Motorrad after Germany," Schaller said. "We see great potential here. In the next few years we aim to tangibly increase our market share in the USA. In fact we're already laying the foun- dation for long-term growth by introducing new products tailored specifically to market needs such as the new bagger and the classic R nineT family in the 'Heritage' segment, and we're also extending our sales and distribution structure, too." As part of the planned expansion, BMW Motorrad is enlarging its worldwide dealer network. Especially on the American continent and in Asia in particular there are plans to expand to a total of 1,500 sites. "With our exceptional model offensive we have laid the cornerstone for a successful motorcycle season in 2017," Schaller said. PSB BMW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 U.S. retails nearly 8,800 bikes to remain largest market Ducati Motor Holding enjoyed further growth in 2016, delivering 55,451 motorcycles to cus- tomers all over the world: that's an increase of 1.2 percent compared to 2015 (54,809 bikes). "Ending the year of our 90th anniversary with yet another record is a source of immense pride and satisfaction," said Claudio Domeni- cali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. "2016 was the seventh consecutive growth year for Ducati, clearly confirming the soundness of the Bologna-based group's strategy and skills." The result also stemmed from the addi- tion of new motorcycles to the 2016 Ducati range: for example, sales of bikes in the Multistrada family were up by 16 percent compared to 2015. T h e r e n e w e d H y p e r m o t a r d f a m i l y enjoyed double-digit growth (+15 percent), while the new Ducati XDiavel received an equally warm welcome on the market, with sales topping 5,200. Moreover, during its second year on international markets, the Ducati Scram- bler brand extended its worldwide success: over 15,500 bikes were delivered, a result achieved thanks also to the introduction of the new Scrambler Sixty2. "In addition to a new sales record, 2016 saw consolidation of the considerable increase in volumes achieved in 2015, thanks also to the introduction of the Scrambler brand. This growth demonstrates the strength of both range and brand and, above all, the solid performance of the global sales network," said Andrea Buzzoni, global sales and marketing director of Ducati Motor Holding. "Results on the Italian market have been significant. Thanks to 20 percent growth in 2016 — and an excellent 84 percent over the two-year period 2015/2016 — Italy is again the second most important market, after the USA and ahead of Germany." The USA retained its position as Ducati's biggest market, with customers receiving a total of 8,787 new bikes. Ducati had 14 per- cent growth in the U.S. from 2014-2015, but the percentage growth in the U.S. from 2015- 2016 was not reported in a recent company press release. On European markets, Ducati repeated the progress of the previous year, with Italy (+20 percent), Spain (+38 percent) and Germany (+8 percent) doing especially well. In China, Ducati more than doubled its year-on-year sales (+120 percent). PSB Ducati sets another sales record in 2016 Ducati showed off its success through November to members of the press during EICMA in Milan. The final sales number was 55,451 for 2016. BMW's new K 1600 B was built with the American market in mind.