Norkis expects strong demand for motorcycles this year

Norkis Trading Co., Inc., the assembler/distributor of Yamaha motorcycles and parts in the Philippines, is slowly trying to change its image to be able to capture the continued demand for motorcycles.

According to Manuel Gaspar E. Albos Jr., Norkis senior vice president, demand for motorcycles is expected to reach one million units by the year 2010.

For this year, Albos is projecting demand for motorcycles to reach 400,00 units.

Yamaha itself is targeting sales of 60,000 units of its solo motorbikes this year, generating revenues of up to P3 billion.

Albos said that last year Yamaha only had less than 10-percent marked share of the solo motorbike segment as compared to Honda’s dominance of the market with a 45-percent market share.

Yamaha, Albos said, sold only 43,500 units last year, generating P1.8 billion in revenues.

Yamaha’s ambitious sales projection is hinged on the introduction of new solo motorbike model, one of which it unveiled yesterday.

Yamaha’s latest model is the Nuovo which will retail at P69,500, Norkis expects to sell about 500 units a month.

It had earlier this year introduced the Crypton R and Crypton Z mopeds.

"We will create a strong image in the solo segment through improvement of model designs, introduction of more accessories and improved customer care," Albos said.

For instance, Albos elaborated, Norkis is converting some of its retail outlets into full service centers offering after sales services.

Yamaha is also embarking on a strong marketing campaign using the popular Taiwanese boy band group, F4, as image models.