"We are just past the halfway mark of 2022, and remarkably, sales results for the first half of the year remain strong despite inflation concerns, some predictions of a recession, and ongoing supply chain challenges." — MIC CEO Erik Pritchard
MIC members, through the association's latest retail sales report, are now getting a detailed look at sales performance for the industry at the end of second quarter. When you compare this year's sales performance to the same period in 2019, the last year before the pandemic, sales are up in every category:
• Scooter: 18% Increase
• On-Highway: 3.8% Increase
• Dual: 63.7% Increase
• Off-Highway: 40.7% Increase
Dual-purpose sales have shown continuous Year-Over-Year growth since 2016 and impressively, the Q2 2022 sales volume is the highest quarter in the history of sales reporting for this segment. The off-highway category is also on a sales tear; YTD 2022 sales are the third highest since 2008 (with only 2020 and 2021 outperforming the current cycle).
Fuel prices are expected to remain high, though they have eased somewhat recently. During previous spikes in fuel prices, our industry saw an influx of new and returning riders seeking an efficient commuting alternative. With two years of increased sales, can we leverage this spike in fuel prices to attract even more new riders, while keeping the tens of thousands of new riders who purchased during the pandemic riding?
Our team is committed to innovating and developing ways to support our membership and the entire industry. This includes spearheading initiatives for our industry to accomplish together. While there are several examples, I'd like to share updates on two programs.
In light of the growing popularity of the dual-purpose category, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation created the AdventureBike RiderCourse. This course will help new owners get the most out of their bikes by teaching them fundamental dirt-riding skills so they can gain the confidence to go off-road. You can read more about what this course entails in Men's Journal:
The other program is our market expansion initiative, Ride With Us. This year we have diversified the locations and events where we bring RWU Moto Intro experiences. In May, we helped reporters and content creators attending the Motor Press Guild event in Malibu experience their first ride, and later this summer, attendees of the California Capital Airshow in Sacramento will have the opportunity to experience Moto Intros.
Additionally, this fall we are launching a national campaign and a new comprehensive website at RideWithUs.com. In growing Ride With Us, we are working to meet potential and new riders where they are, in order to help inspire, encourage exploration, engage their interest, and integrate them into our community. It is the right program at the right time, and we encourage the entire industry to get more involved.
