Mega-scooters and motorcycles

Although better known for passenger cars, the Tokyo Motor Show also featured the latest two-wheeler technology from the Japanese manufacturers.

Within two decades, the Japanese motorcycle industry's production, domestic sales, and exports have shrunk to less than one third of the record set in banner year 1982, when the industry turned out over 7 million motorized two-wheelers. With production of 2.115 million units in 2002, Japan now ranks a distant third behind China and India. These two countries having the largest motorcycle populations at 33 million and 28 million, respectively, versus Japan's 1.35 million units in use.

The Japanese brands are firmly entrenched in most emerging economies except China, where a huge number of manufacturers and assemblers have sprouted up in recent years. In India, Honda has climbed to the top of the sales ladder with 1.68 million units produced in 2002. It also enjoys the lion's share of the Italian market, Europe's stronghold in motorcycle production and sales.