Automobiles are vehicles that have four wheels and seats for passengers. They run on petrol or diesel and are used for transporting people. The vehicle can seat between one and eight passengers. In addition, it may have a rear seat that can be removed and used to carry supplies.
Motorcycles are also self-propelled, and they are sometimes considered automobiles. However, the definition is a little unclear. Some courts have determined motorcycles do not qualify as an automobile, while others have ruled they do. Still, legal matters tend to get nitpicky and often the term “motorcycle” is tossed around without regard to how it applies to the vehicle.
There are four main categories of automobiles. Passenger cars, Sport, Economy, and Commercial. For example, the BMW R 1250 GS was compared against the Audi Q5 Sport Back 45 TFSI Quattro in a test, which measured the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Both vehicles earned more than 50 mpg, though the BMW was easily the faster of the two.
Honda’s presence in Asia has increased dramatically over the last few years. Sales in the region have grown from fewer than 300,000 units in the 2011 fiscal year to more than 1 million units in the fiscal year ending in March of this year. This increase has been driven in part by low interest rates and pent-up demand after severe flooding in late 2011. Despite the improved conditions, Honda does not expect to see significant demand in the region through the 2025 fiscal year.
Another area where Honda has a foothold is in Latin America. Honda’s market share in that region is approximately 75 percent or more. Its presence is also notable in Africa, which is a potential growth area for the company. Nevertheless, the region remains a question mark for the Japanese automaker, due to the presence of Indian brands Baja and TVR.
Japan’s automotive sector is a key driver of Honda’s profits. Although it faces competition from rivals such as Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, the Japanese manufacturer has an unusually strong underlying balance sheet. Moreover, the company’s net cash position remained robust, at $2,093 billion in the fiscal year ended in March of this year. And, free cash flow has been positive for the past five years.
Motorcycles are a popular form of transportation. The number of registered motorcycles is increasing each year. But they have to adhere to the same rules and regulations as other motorized vehicles. Therefore, they are required to wear a helmet and ride in a separate lane from other traffic. Besides, they cannot park on sidewalks or striped lines in parking lots. To avoid getting into trouble, motorcycle riders must also use a seat belt. Interestingly, these requirements are not as strict as they are for other types of vehicles.
As a result of the improvement in the economy, automobile sales in Thailand grew by 45.8 percent to 800,357 new vehicles in 2010. This growth was driven by government subsidies and the strong economy. Meanwhile, commercial vehicle sales accounted for 56 percent of the total. While the total numbers are improving, the automobile business is still struggling.