Ducati's sales in China rose by 92.7 percent. (Photo : Getty Images)
Ducati Motor Holding SpA announced a big boost in motorbikes this year, and customers are unfazed with the government ban in majority of cities. Sales nearly doubled in the first half of the year.
The high-end motorbike manufacturer said that more Chinese realize that owning a Ducati is an expression of personality and lifestyle.
Marco Eli, head of Ducati China, said, "More and more Chinese are starting to understand that motorcycles are not only for commuting but can also give themselves character."
The number of units sold was not disclosed, but the manufacturer announced that sales went up by 92.7 percent.
In 2015, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali announced that the manufacturer sold 54,800 units. That was the first time in the company's history.
The best-selling units then were the Scrambler, the Multistrada 1200, the Monster 821, the 1299 and 899 Panigale, and the Diave.
Sales in China and in Asia account for a large chunk of Ducati's sales. In the coming years, China is predicted to overtake Japan, the biggest market to date. China is the second highest buyer of high-end bikes.
Asia comprised 13 percent of total global sales.
Ducati plans to bring in more products this year and is predicted to boost sales even more. According to Eli, their products will cater to their target market of "confident men aged 32 to 40, who enjoy a quality life."
The cost of getting a license in Shanghai is 150,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan. The price tag of a Ducati ranges from 83,800 yuan, or $12,560, to 489,000 yuan.
Zeng Zhiling, managing director of LMC Automotive Consulting Co. Ltd., said that Ducati's sales increase is due to the expanding middle class and the rising number of rich people.
"The sales growth of high-end motorcycles would not surprise me," he said.
