Yamaha Nozza Grande scooter. — Photo yamaha-motor.com

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) – Scooters led sales in the two-wheeler market for the first time last year, indicating that the era of motorbikes is drawing to a close, sellers and manufacturers said.

Ho Manh Tuan, deputy director of Honda Viet Nam, told Viet Nam News that this year scooter sales would continue to rise, accounting for 55 per cent of the market.

By 2018 the ratio would reach 60 per cent, he said.

A member of the marketing staff of a foreign company known for its scooters concurred with him, telling Viet Nam News that scooter sales have kept rising in the current years, albeit in single digits.

Yano Takeshi, chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers and general director of Yamaha Motor Viet Nam, told Sai Gon Times online that in 2015 scooter sales had accounted for 52-53 per cent of the market.

Yamahas scooter sales are doubling every year thanks to new models, he said.

Last year they had achieved parity wit motorbike sales, he said.

The motorbikes falling status vis-a-vis the scooter was clearly on show at the first Viet Nam Motorcycle Show which ended in HCM City on Sunday.

Most of the nearly 200 vehicles on display were scooters and sports motorbikes.

Ngoc Tha of HCM City said he visited the exhibition to see new motorbike models, but unfortunately most of the vehicles on display were either scooters or concept and sports motorbikes.

Many reasons are attributed to the rising popularity of scooters.

Sellers said in big cities infrastructure has improved tremendously, enabling people to conveniently ride scooters.

Good design is another reason.

A HCM City-based seller said companies are now introducing many scooters with modern technologies at reasonable prices.

Takeshi said the new trend reflects also reflects the improvement in peoples living standards.

On the consumers side safety and ease of use are the main reasons for scooters popularity.

Asked why they would prefer to buy scooters, most people attributed it to their large storage space, saying it would help avoid robberies.

They also pointed to the ease of starting and riding scooters.

1st VN motorcycle show attracts 141,630 visitors

The Việt Nam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers said more than 141,630 visitors came to the first Việt Nam Motorcycle Show.

The four-day exhibition showcased nearly 200 motorbikes with advanced technologies from eight motorbike brands besides components and accessories made by 61 other companies.

This year the country's motorbike market is expected to grow at a modest 2-3 per cent. — VNS