Know-How Exchange : Strategy

Could you define "the present situation" in the motorcycle market? And in which countries? Unless MUJI is making bikes, aren't ALL motorcycles "branded"?

As for Japanese bikes, there are parts of the USA where the Harley is, and remains, king. So, you might want to offer more details on the regions of specific markets you're looking at.

The present situation in the motorbike market is not one that is easy to explain. I presume we are talking about entire Japanese motorbikes - Honda for example also assemble their machines in India. Is this still a "Japanese bike"? There are others that assemble their machines elsewhere in the world such as China.

The name that the Japanese have for their machines is practically unparalleled - and for a medium sized machine you really can't get better value. Quality, reliability and availability - and a sensible price mean that they hold sway across the world.

So what are the alternatives to a Japanese machine? There really isn't much choice if you want an entirely non-Japanese machine. Ducati is perhaps the only manufacturer today that does not use Japanese parts. In asking how long the Japanese model remains the leader in the market, you might as well ask how long will the market last.

There is a broader issue here. It isn't about the hegemony of Japanese motorbikes. It's about the use of Japanese components - the so-called producer parts. Engine management systems are one such, a Harley uses a Japanese system for example. There aren't many bikes on the road that don't use a Japanese system - I thought it was 100% until I was upbraided by a Ducati fan who informed me otherwise! There are few enough motorcars that don't use a Japanese engine management system. That is just one component - there are forks, brakes, braking systems and goodness knows what else that are usually Japanese.

The dominance of the Japanese component industry is profound. It is so far in advance of the competition that in practical terms there isn't any. BMWs, Liebherr, Fiat, VW, Peugeot and goodness knows who else all use Japanese components in large numbers - better, more reliable. They aren't cheaper, but then they don't need to be - only for all their dominance they aren't overpriced either. Which seems to be one secret of the Japanese economy.