Motorcycle sales brought much-needed good news to the country’s depressed vehicle retail sector, as a negative streak of more than a year came to an end.

A 22 percent increase was seen in March sales in the yearly comparison, ending 13 consecutive months of decline after 42,337 units were sold, a significant improvement over the 34,680 purchased in 2014, according to figures provided yesterday by the Argentine Association of Motovehicles (Mottos).

In the monthly comparison, sales were 23 percent up too. Although this means that the first quarter of the year ended with a 23 percent drop overall, the change of trend is positive news for the sector.

“This confirms what we had already foreshadowed in January and February, it is a very positive development,” Mottos president Diego Dinitz said.

“The trend is probably going to continue, and it is very likely that in the next few months the accumulated total for the year will stop being on the red,” Dinitz added, expecting less problematic months and “more stable” months on the horizon.

News follows some relatively positive news in the car sector, where sales are still declining, but did so at a slower pace in March, according to the Argentine Association of Car Dealers (ACARA). The automobile sector is now on its fifteenth consecutive month of decline.

Overall, new car sales last year dropped 28 percent when compared with 2013, while motorcycles were 32 percent down in the same period, as reduced demand from Brazil, restrictions on spare parts imports and devaluation hit both sectors.

Date: April 7, 2015

Source: http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/186133/motorcyle-sector-sees-slight-recovery-in-march