After more than two years of hiatus (of sorts), the Philippine motorcycle industry ended the past year with a resounding bang. Manufacturers held product launches and staged events like there’s no tomorrow to compensate for lost time, especially in the latter half of 2022. Having witnessed all these activities, we were able to have a glimpse of what’s to come in 2023. Here are some of what we can expect this year in the local motorcycle scene.

More touring activities 

Motorcycle manufacturers will take advantage of the cooler climate and relatively predictable weather of the year's first quarter to organize motorcycle touring events to chat with customers and strengthen brand presence. You better keep your bike in top condition; you might receive an invitation to an all-expenses-paid touring ride from your dealer any day.

Motorcycle exhibits will feature more electric options

Summertime is considered the motorcycle industry's peak season, and it is why bike shows and exhibitions are usually held around this period. This year’s exhibits, however, might be slightly different. Motorcycle trade shows would probably have significantly more electric bike displays in commuter and leisure segments.

Phone connectivity will be a standard feature

Some motorcycle models are now equipped with connectivity features such as Yamaha’s Y-connect or KYMCO Noodoe. Still, we could expect more of this feature to be available on bikes to be launched this year.

Road safety will be a major priority for manufacturers

Mainstream motorcycle brands will incorporate new safety-related technologies into their top-end models through artificial intelligence. Major players like Honda and Yamaha recently announced their push for zero motorcycle accidents by 2050. This year, we witness their first few steps in this direction.

Supply issues of popular brands will lead to the rise of new industry players

While the so-called Big 4 brands (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki) are doing considerably well despite the current global supply problem, a chuck of the market might be swayed to consider alternative brands because of their abundance in stock.

These are just our informed predictions based on industry activities in the past year. Would you care to share your motorcycle industry fearless forecast for 2023?