Car Sales Fall With Rise of Motorbike & Scooter Popularity

A RECORD number of Australians are choosing two wheels over four, with the rise in motorcycle and scooter sales matched by a decline in the number of new cars hitting the road.

Figures released yesterday by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show that 134,112 motorcycles, scooters and two-wheeled all-terrain vehicles were sold last year, an increase of 4146 — or 3.2 per cent — over the previous record set in 2007.

Last year, 1,012,164 new cars were sold in Australia, a 3.6 per cent drop from the 1,049,982 sold in 2007.

According to FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar, the rising demand for smaller vehicles is being driven by petrol prices, inner-city traffic congestion and free parking offered in some capital cities for motorcycles and scooters.

“In challenging economic circumstances, people are looking for cost-effective options in terms of personal transport,” he said.

“The increasing array of motorcycles on the market means that there are models on offer to suit the varying tastes and needs of riders, whether for daily commuting or recreation.”

Adam Masters, store manager at Action Motorcycles and Accessories in inner Sydney, has seen an 8 per cent increase in the two-wheeled commuter and sports market over the past year.

“The car industry has obviously seen a massive decrease in sales in the past six months, but we haven’t been affected by that,” he said.

The global financial crisis had played a crucial role in the car industry slump. “They’re large-ticket items and people are obviously counting their pennies. A bike that’s under $20,000 will do the same, if not more, than a car can do,” he said.

The Sydney store sells motorcycles and scooters, and Mr Masters said customers had been influenced by the Sydney City Council’s free-parking initiative, congestion in the metro area, unreliable public transport and high petrol prices.

Mr McKellar said many people, particularly those who lived and worked in busy cities, were being drawn to scooters in record numbers.

Ali Tabbouche, 27, yesterday picked up his new $3600 Yamaha sports scooter from Action Motorcycles and Accessories.

Mr Tabbouche, a first-time scooter buyer, said his decision to buy a scooter stemmed from frustration with the public transport system and free parking being offered in the CBD.

“I used to catch the bus to work in the city and it was so unreliable, and stopped eight times, so it took so long. Now I can ride down there in 10 minutes from home and parking isn’t an issue.” However, he had also bought the scooter for fun.