Local motorcycle sales jumped 26% year-on-year last month, the highest growth of the year, bringing the cumulative number of motorcycle registered in the first nine months to 1.32 million units.

The growth was attributed to increased disposable income for farmers and high fuel prices that have caused some consumers to switch to motorcycles from motor vehicles.

Teerapat Chivapong, sales director of AP Honda Co, said the number of motorcycle registrations in September totalled 147,510 compared to 117,210 units in the same month last year, representing a 26% increase or 30,300 units.

From January to September, registrations grew by 7% over the same period last year with 1.32 million total units.

Thanks to higher commodity prices and fluctuations in oil prices, consumers were more concerned about fuel efficiency, allowing sales to remain strong.

According to Mr Teerapat, family motorcycles became very popular and took 54% of the market, up from 50% at the beginning of the year. There were 78,965 registered last month.

Automatic transmission motorcycles had a 43% market share and sales of 63,071 units. Family sport models earned a 3% share and sales of 3,781 units. Sport models had a 1% share with sales of 903 units.

Noting that consumers were increasingly concerned about the economy, motorcycle makers are trying to introduce a new effective fuel injection system to cut fuel use as well as build brand awareness, said Mr Teerapat.

Honda remained the market leader in the January-September period with 906,337 units sold, a 4% year-on-year increase with a 68% market share. Its Japanese rival Yamaha finished second with 334,595 units sold, a 19% increase with a 25% share.

Suzuki of Japan was third with 59,996 units sold, down 5% year-on-year with a 5% share.

Tiger, the Thai brand, sold only 808 units in the first nine months, down 43% year-on-year while Kawasaki sold 7,589 units, a 33% year-on-year increase. JRD, a locally built Malaysian brand, sold 3,700 units, a 20% decrease.

Platinum, a locally built Chinese brand, sold 1,980 units, a 21% decrease, while sales of other brands rose 3% to 8,601 units.