Yamaha Motor PHL cuts sales projection for 2012 by 10,000 units

The  decline in local demand for Japanese brand motorcycles has affected another manufacturer, with Yamaha Motor Philippines slashing its sales projection for 2012 by 10 percent, according to a company official. Company president Takeshi Yano said Yamaha is now expecting to end the year with sales of 110,000 units rather than the previous projection of 120,000. "The slow demand forced us to reduce our target by 10,000 units," he said. According to Yano, the main reason for the company's relatively weak sales is the proliferation of cheaper, non-Japanese brands in the local market. The company is bullish about 2013, however, with Yano pointing out that the lower forecast of 110,000 is still more than its sales in 2011 of 100,000. "As of October, we have already sold 70,000-plus units," he said. Yamaha currently has 10 models sold in the local market: one from Thailand, one from India, and eight locally manufactured. Yamaha was one of four Japanese companies that launched a campaign last week urging Filipinos to use only original and Japanese-designed motorcycles and parts for safety reasons. The others were Honda Philippines, Kawasaki Motors Philippines, and Suzuki Philippines. The four Japanese firms cover about 63 percent of the local motorcycle supply. The rest are imported from other countries, particularly China. — BM, GMA News