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Qatar

Qatar registers over 55% jump in motorbike demand

Published: 01 Sep 2018 - 02:34 am | Last Updated: 03 Nov 2021 - 08:31 pm
Mohamed Al Zain Ibrahim, Executive Manager of Gulf Driving School

Mohamed Al Zain Ibrahim, Executive Manager of Gulf Driving School

By Mohammad Shoeb I The Peninsula

DOHA: The demand for motorbikes in Qatar witnessed a sharp jump in June this year. The registration for ‘private motorcycles’ in the country saw a remarkable growth of 55.6 percent in June 2018 year-on-year (y-o-y) to 112 compared to 72 in the corresponding month last year.

However, when compared on month-on-month (m-o-m) basis the registration for motorcycles in June declined by 40.1 percent compared to 187 in the previous month (May 2018), latest official data released by the Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics show.

Talks with some leading driving schools in Qatar also suggested that the demand of driver’s licenses for motorbikes have seen a moderate growth over the past few months.

“The rate of growth in the number of new applicants seeking driver’s licence for motorbike is moderately higher than those applying for cars and other vehicles,” Mohamed Al Zain Ibrahim, Executive Manager of Gulf Driving School, told The Peninsula yesterday.

Ibrahim added: “Despite being summer vacation and Eid holidays, the demand for motorbike licenses has gone up. However, the registration of applicants seeking driving training for cars and other light motor vehicles continues to be robust.”

Some analysts said that the surge in the demand for two-wheelers and the number of applicants seeking motorbike licenses was understandably because many companies such as retailers, restaurants and fast food outlets are switching to motorbikes from cars for the door-to-door delivery of their goods and services as part of efforts to rationalise the overheads and operating costs to remain competitive in the market.

According to official data, the sales of private vehicles such as cars and SUVs remained almost stable in June this year with the total registration of private vehicles standing at 2,660 against 2,674 registrations recorded in the same month last year. However, when compared on monthly basis, the registration for private vehicles witnessed a decline of 28 percent in June compared to 3,696 reported for the previous month (May 2018).

The sales of private transport vehicles, trailers, heavy equipment and others all saw a decline in June 2018 compared to the same month last year.

However, the registration of vehicles classified under the ‘Other’ category saw a sharp jump of 93.3 percent in June (m-o-m).

In total some 3,910 vehicles were registered in June 2018 over 4,471 in June 2017.

And 148 units of heavy equipment were sold in the month of June 2018 against 195 in May 2018 and 281 in June 2017.