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T H E O N LY M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E W O R L D W I D E V- T W I N PA R T S , A C C E S S O RY A N D P E R F O R M A N C E I N D U S T RY
Harley first quarter worldwide motorcycle retail sales down -1.3 percent, -0.7 percent in United States; 2015 forecasts revised ARLEY-DAVIDSON has reported that their first quarter 2015 worldwide retail sales of new motorcycles decreased 1.3 percent compared to last year's first quarter. Dealers worldwide are reported to have sold 56,661 new HarleyDavidson motorcycles in the first quarter of 2015, compared to 57,415 motorcycles in the yearago quarter; with shipments down to 79,589 motorcycles worldwide from 80,682 in the year-ago quarter. In the U.S., dealers sold 35,488 new Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the quarter, down -0.7 percent compared to sales of 35,730 motorcycles in the year-ago period. The company believes increased, aggressive competitive motorcycle discounting was among the factors adversely affecting firstquarter U.S. retail Harley-Davidson sales. As a result the company is lowering its estimated growth rate for full-year
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motorcycle shipments in order to "manage supply in line with demand and protect the premium nature of our brand." The company says it now expects motorcycle shipments to grow approximately 2 percent to 4 percent in 2015 (276,000 to 281,000
protect the premium nature of our brand motorcycles), down from the previous 4 percent to 6 percent shipment growth forecast (282,000 to 287,000). In international markets, dealers sold 21,173 new Harley-Davidson motorcycles during the quarter compared to 21,685 motorcycles in the year-ago period, with unit sales down 1.1 percent in the Asia Pacific
Sapka Muvek took a Buell XB12R and retained little more than the frame, forks and engine during the rebuild as the bike was rebuilt to compete in the Street Performance class at the 2014 AMD World Championship. Full story on pages 55-56
region and 5.6 percent in the EMEA region and up 0.3 percent in the Latin America region and 5.7 percent in Canada. The company says that sales in many of its emerging markets were up significantly in the quarter, including India, China and Mexico, and says it now has nearly 1,500 "independent" dealerships in more than 90 countries globally. Harley say that in 2014 they were the number-one seller of new on-road motorcycles to U.S. young adults ages 18-34, women, African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasian men ages 35-plus for the seventh straight year. In the 601cc-plus U.S. on-road market, Harley say they sold more than three times as many new motorcycles to young adults ages 18-34, more than seven times as many to women, more than five times as many to Hispanics, more than five times as many to African Americans and more than nine Continued on page 10 >>>
MAY 2015 ISSUE #190
S&S Cycle to exhibit at AIMExpo, sponsor Freestyle Class
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