Kawasaki Reports Q3 2011-2012 Results

Kawasaki reported a net profit of 33.7 billion yen (US$441.9 million) for the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2011, but its motorcycle and engine division continues to operate at a loss.

The motorcycle and engine division, which also includes ATVs, UTVs, personal watercraft and power products, operated at a loss of 4.58 billion yen (US$60.1 million) over the first three quarters of Kawasaki‘s 2011-2012 fiscal year, including a loss of 2.2 billion yen (US$28.9 million) in the third quarter alone. By comparison, Kawasaki reported a loss of 2.63 billion yen (US$34.5 million) over the first three quarters of 2010.

Kawasaki reports growth in motorcycle sales in emerging markets while sales in developed markets dropped. The rising value of the Japanese yen and flooding in Thailand also hurt the bottom line.

The motorcycle and engine division sold 344,000 units over its first three quarters, compared to 321,000 units sold over the same period the year before. North American sales accounted for 69,000 units. The entire division saw a drop in sales from 2010 but motorcycle sales actually rose from the 37,000 reported last year.

[Source: Kawasaki]

By Dennis Chung