MANILA: A growing economy is driving demand for big bikes in the Philippines, elevating the status of the motorcycle that is more associated with utility than leisure, Japan’s Honda said.
Honda brought its big bikes to Manila during the Christmas Season last year, challenging early market entrants Harley Davidson and Ducati. The company was “slightly conservative” on the Philippines, said Honda Pilippines president and CEO Daiki Mihara.
Honda expects to sell around 500 big bikes this year, compared to 500,000 small models it sold last year, he said. The company had long relied on small engine bikes used for commuting and deliveries to drive sales in the Philippines.
