Not only was the pandemic the cause of the long pause among the first Motorcycle showroom of 2018 and this second edition, which is developing during this long weekend in La Rural. The original idea of its organizers had been that it should take place in 2022, but then the exchange rate blocked the queue: no dollars to import high-end motorcycles, the main draw was missing.
Stocks are even more closed this year, but a window has been opened for motorcycle assembly companies to allow them use their pesos to buy yuanchinese currency, at the official exchange.
i don’t like the Automobiles of Chinese origin, whose trademarks still they do not reach 1% of patentsmotorcycles of Chinese origin represent about 70% of the marketaccording to the estimates of the executives who make up the Chamber of Motorcycle Manufacturers (CAFAME).
“100% small displacement motorcycles, up to 110cc, they are chinese. That market between 55% and 60% of the patents. To this we must add at least half of larger engine capacity motorcycles“, estimated one of the main directors of the Chamber chaired by Lino Stefanuto.
At the beginning of the year, the Central Bank had yuan reserves of the equivalent of 5 billion dollarsbottom remained practically intact. Until on April 26 the minister Sergio Massa announced the Activation of trade with China.
With this mechanism, according to the estimates of the Palacio de Hacienda, they have already been paid imports of goods for US$ 1,717 million only until mid-May, 34% of the amount available in BCRA reserves.
In the case of motorcycles, many of the models on display this weekend were brought in (and ordered) many months ago, before the exchange with China was activated at the end of April.
But for entrepreneurs in the sector, the key fact is that expectations have been raised: Now they aim to maintain the commercial activity, in addition to that of the assembly plants. And they aim to sell about 500,000 unitswhich would represent a 15% increase over 2022 motorcycle patents.
With that ring road of the yuan, importers avoid the overcrowded line of buyers of dollars at the official price. As they assured Clarín, the “pay with yuan” option when filling out the SIRA form (via Import System) It is approved without further delay.
In Argentina, 97% of motorbikes are imported, according to data from the Chamber of Motorcycle Manufacturers (CAFAM), with a very low local integration regime: until 31 December each assembly company is required to a floor of 2% of local auto parts for each motorcycle, and those with greater local integration I’m around 15%.
In this way, between 85% and 98%of the motorcycle arrives disassembled in wooden crates with the IKD format (for “incompletely knocked down”): at the plant they are assembled and some local car parts are added, which at the moment is usually seats OR pieces of plastic.
Only one factory, Honda, carries some models from Brazil with zero tariff, but according to sources in the sector the price is “anti-competitive” compared to the Chinese IKD. Another percentage, also smaller, is imported from India and Europe.
Of the 16 assemblersFive are the ones that stand out the most. The first place in sales, with a share of 35%, is occupied by Iraola Group (by Leandro Iraola) which has a conglomerate of brands, from Corven to Kawasaki, with its main plant in Venado Tuerto and another in La Reja. Iraola is also a partner of the Zanella brand.
The multinational follows Slingwhich unified all motorcycle production in the Campana plant, with just over 20% of the market, and a little further back (20%) is the group Emiliaby Marcelo and Mario Meller, creators of the Motomel brand and representatives of Suzuki, Benelli and Sym.
In fourth place another national brand with 70 years of history, Gilera (about 10%), whose owners also represent the foreign brands Hero and Voge. Fifth place is occupied by Sympa groupfamily business of petrochemical origin, whose third generation has developed a department for the import and subsequent assembly of medium and high-end motorcycleswith the British-Indian brand Royal Enfield as the flagship.
Source: Clarin
