One for the road: trends and challenges in the motorcycle industry

Motorcycles serve a variety of purposes, each appealing to different types of riders. For recreational use, bikers enjoy the thrill of the open road, reveling in speed and scenic views. For daily transportation, motorcycles offer a versatile and cost-effective solution, allowing consumers to navigate traffic and reach their destinations with ease. Reflecting their broad appeal, the global motorcycle market is valued at USD 106.8 billion in 2023.

People living in developing countries prefer motorcycles because of their fuel-efficiency and versatility on traffic-heavy roads. According to a survey report by Global Market Insights, 46% of consumers are based in Asia Pacific in 2022, and it is seen to continue to grow in the coming years. With the increased demand for motorcycles, manufacturers have also diversified their portfolio, which included the launch of electric motorcycles.

As of 2023, the global market share of electric motorcycles is 11%, while 89% is the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE). While consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, the ICE-powered motorcycles are still domineering the market because of their established infrastructure and reliability, simplicity, and affordability features. Manufacturers are therefore continuously improving the ICE technology to make it more refined and optimized.

The rising demand for both electric and ICE-powered motorcycles has led to high-paced production. A motorcycle can be assembled in as fast as 90 minutes. One could imagine how complex and intricate each part needs to be assembled to ensure top-notch quality. Such complexity requires careful attention from the operators, including frequent bending to secure hard-to-reach joints. Occupation-related injuries not only affect the company’s productivity, but also affect their workers.

Equipment in a factory normally requires specialized skills to operate, and the fast-paced environment in the manufacturing industry often requires a steep learning curve. The costs incurred from rework and scraps are also seen as a challenge. Precision is essential in safety critical joints along with every part of the assembly line which manual tools cannot always guarantee. The good news is that smart tools are now available that are easy to use and can ensure precision and enable data collection for quality assurance.