Today, Japan produces over 600 thousand motorcycles per year, focusing on large engines with a cylinder capacity of 250 and above. However, within Japan, the most common types of two-wheelers in use are those with a cylinder capacity of 50 or below, indicating that large engine bikes are primarily produced for foreign markets.
Japan’s key markets for two-wheeler exports are Europe and North America, splitting almost 80 percent of total motorcycle exports from Japan between them in 2018.
User demographics suggest that Japanese motorcyclists are graying, yet less young folks intend to purchase motorbikes, resulting in an overall decrease of motorcycles in use. At the same time, environmental awareness is spreading among consumers in Japan. While the domestic demand for motorcycles continues to stagnate, sales of electric power assist bicycles, also known as e-bikes, surged in recent years.
However, in early 2019, the country’s four leading motorcycle manufacturers were reported to collaborate on unified standards for electric two-wheelers, setting up the domestic industry for international competition on green technology.