The motorcycle industry’s commitment to road safety. This document showcases some of the industry’s most important initiatives in the area of motorcycle safety.
The European Motorcycle Training Quality Label is a scheme that helps motorcyclists to clearly and easily identify the best post-license training programmes in Europe
Echoing the statements of automotive suppliers and manufacturers on the current shortage of semiconductors at global level, ACEM has taken steps to voice its members’ concerns on the situation as well as to highlight the strategic importance of semiconductors for the motorcycle industry too.
In a letter recently addressed to EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, ACEM calls on the European Commission to support current and future endeavours to obtain additional supplies of semiconductors for the whole automotive sector, including the motorcycle segment.
ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot took the opportunity to salute the European Commission’s active work towards a more localised production of strategic components in the EU, while underlining that the medium/long term vision would not address the current urgency and short‐term supply problem the industry is facing today. ACEM trusts that the European Commission will continue to engage with its regional counterparts in the coming weeks and months. It is now crucial to rapidly secure the usual flow of components needed to support the industry on the path towards achieving the EU’s ambitions set in the Green Deal.
Press contact
Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communication assistant E. T. +32 22 30 97 32
Riding two-wheelers makes an important contribution to our quality of life. Smartly integrated within a transport system, along with public and other private means of transport, motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles and quadricycles (hereinafter referred to as “motorcycles”) make possible something that we usually take for granted: efficient and sustainable mobility.
As EU & US leaders are about to turn a new page in their relationship and launch the transatlantic Trade & Technology Council, we want to stress the importance of resolving the Section 232 dispute once and for all, and of removing the tariffs which unfairly impact products and sectors unrelated to the source of the dispute.
Our organisations want to reiterate the critical importance of the transatlantic relationship for our sectors, the European economy & employment in Europe. We welcome the steps taken by both sides to seek to de-escalate the dispute in the last months – and particularly the EU’s decision not to impose the second tranche of rebalancing measures on 1 June. We fully support the common goal to reach a fruitful solution & thereby remove all remaining punitive tariffs by the end of November. The removal of all remaining rebalancing tariffs and the commitment not to impose new tariffs would provide a welcome boost to our sectors, many of which have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic and related economic slowdown.
Many of our sectors rely on open trade flows with the US as part of their production processes in the EU. For others, affected US goods are an essential and integral part of their portfolios, allowing them to invest in EU production & distribution and create local jobs and growth in the EU in the process. We call on President von der Leyen, Vice-President Dombrovskis and EU leaders to intensify their efforts towards a comprehensive and speedy resolution of this dispute, in order to support our members in their post-COVID recovery efforts and to help boost & accelerate investment in the EU. Securing the permanent removal of tariffs on unrelated sectors will also allow both sides to establish a positive transatlantic trade agenda and focus on common areas of interest, such as climate change, the digital agenda and reform of the WTO.
ACEM press contact
Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communication assistant E. T. +32 22 30 97 32
The joint release was issued by the following trade associations:
ACEM (European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers); CAOBISCO (Association of the Chocolate, Biscuits and Confectionery industries of Europe); CECIMO (European Association of the Machine Tool Industries and related Manufacturing Technologies); Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council); CEMA (European Agricultural Machinery Association); EuroCommerce; EBI (European Boating Industry); FEC (Federation of European manufacturers of Cookware and cutlery); FRUCOM (European Federation of the trade in dried fruit, edible nuts, processed fruit & vegetables and processed fishery products); spiritsEUROPE
In April 2017, the US Commerce Department launched an investigation on the impact of the import of aluminium and steel for US national security, which lead to the imposition of a 25% import duty on steel from all foreign producers and 10% on aluminium from 23 March, 2018.
EU officials introduced counterbalancing measures on US products on 20 June 2018. The new import duty on affected US products first applied on 22 June 2018. Under this implementing regulation, the Commission introduced a clause whereby a second trance of rebalancing measures would apply from 1 June 2021, in the absence of a satisfactory solution before then.
On 17 May 2021, the European Commission announced the EU had agreed with the US to suspend the second tranche of rebalancing measures in the ongoing steel and aluminium dispute. On the same day, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the start of discussions to address global steel and aluminum excess capacity.
On 15 June 2021, EU & US leaders formally agreed to engage in discussions to allow the resolution of existing differences on measures regarding steel and aluminium before the end of the year. Since then, both sides have expressed a willingness to find a solution by the end of November 2021.
In the absence of a resolution of the dispute or decision to postpone their entry into force, the second tranche of EU rebalancing measures would be in force from 1 December 2021.
Today five new motorcycle training programmes, in Italy, Cyprus, Greece and Portugal, were awarded the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label, an initiative jointly led by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) and the German Road Safety Council (DVR).
The awarded programmes are:
“Importance of Protective Equipment - Accident Risk Assessment - Riding Skills Development”, a programme offered by the Cyprus Motorcycles Federation
“Advice on Advanced Riding - E.Q.L.” a programme offered by the Hellenic Motorcycle Institute MOTOTHESIS
“Safe Driving Course” and “Advanced Safe Driving Course”, two programmes offered by the Italian Motorcyclists Federation (FMI)
“Ride safer - Motorcycle training”, a programme offered by the PRP (Prevenção Rodoviária Portuguesa), the Portuguese association for the prevention of road accidents
These training programmes have received the Provisional European Motorcycle Training Quality Label, which will be valid for a period of 12 months. This Label certifies that the above-mentioned training programmes are of high quality as well as road safety-oriented based on the programme screening and initial assessment. An on-site evaluation by DVR safety experts will take place as soon as the COVID-19 situation allows it.
Quote
Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), said: “The Label is not only part of the motorcycle industry’s forward-looking safety strategy but also an excellent example of how cooperation between industry players, NGOs, motorcycle trainers and users’ organisations can deliver positive results in motorcycle safety. The European Motorcycle Training Quality Label has been strongly supported by the European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean and the European Coordinator for Road Safety Matthew Baldwin.”
Julia Fohmann, Spokesperson of the German Road Safety Council (DVR), said: “We are glad that new training programmes are joining the network of excellence of high-quality safety training providers in Europe. The European Motorcycle Training Quality Label aims to encourage riders to undergo voluntary safety training on a regular basis. This motivates us to continue working every day to make Europe’s roads safer”.
Damiano Zamana, Deputy CEO of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), said: “The FIM considers that life-long training is essential to improve the safety of motorcyclists. Having certified programmes delivering high-quality, post-licence, training contents is one of the objectives of the FIM Strategy 2024. We are pleased to see that our members, in Italy and Cyprus, are actively delivering training programs. At the same time, in Portugal and Greece, the cooperation between the awardees and our members is an example of best practices in support of riders’ safety. The FIM will continue supporting high-quality training for all motorcyclists”.
Press contact
For further information please contact: Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communications assistant E. P. +32 22 30 97 32
On 29 September 2021, the International Transport Forum (ITF) holds the closing event of the Motorcyclists safety workshop “Riding in a Safe System”.
The workshop was co-organised by the International Transport Forum (ITF), the Swedish Transport Administration, VTI, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), and the motorcycle manufacturers associations (ACEM and IMMA). It is a follow-up to the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Stockholm in February 2020, and was focused on the nine recommendations of the Academic Expert Group and their application to motorcyclists’ safety, building on the 2008 Lillehammer workshop and on the 2015 ITF research report “Improving Safety for Motorcycle, Scooter and Moped Riders”.
The closing session will be the occasion to present the outcome of the workshop, in the form of seven thematic recommendations.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all. Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, the organisation works on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges.
About the ITF
The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 62 member countries. It acts as a think tank for transport policy and organises the Annual Summit of transport ministers. ITF is the only global body that covers all transport modes. The ITF is administratively integrated with the OECD, yet politically autonomous.
Contact
Véronique Feypell de la Beaumelle IRTAD Manager of the Road Safety Programme E.
On 1 July 2021, the European Commission published a Public Consultation to gather stakeholders’ views on a future EU Urban Mobility framework. ACEM values the effort of the European Commission towards its 2050 climate strategy, which the Motorcycling community strive to contribute too.
ACEM has responded to the Public Consultation but regrets that this has proven to be difficult in light of the Commission’s questionnaire format and content, leaving out Powered Two-Wheelers (PTWs) as an urban mobility option. ACEM recalls that more than 35 million PTWs are used on European roads, many of which as day-to-day mobility means, especially in urban environments.
As regards the future political strategic orientation of the European Union, ACEM calls for the EC to consider the use of (electric) powered two-wheelers in urban areas as a valuable contribution, along with public transport, walking and cycling. The latter means of transport do not realistically cover all transport requirements and the need for affordable, private motorized transport, will always exist.
This piece of research by Oxford Economics shows that the motorcycle sector in the EU and the UK supports about 389,000 jobs through different activities including the manufacturing of vehicles, parts and accessories, and personal protective equipment, as well as motorcycle-related activities.
The study has also found that just in 2019, the motorcycle sector contributed about € 21.4 billion of GDP across Europe. All in all, every € 1 of GDP created directly by motorcycle businesses supported a further € 1.80 of GDP in other industries, due to the various knock-on expenditure impacts.
In terms of tax revenue, the motorcycle sector and related activities generated about € 16.6 billion, making motorcycling an important contributor to public finances, particularly in large markets like Germany, France, Italy, UK and Spain.
A new piece of research by Oxford Economics shows that the motorcycle sector in the EU and the UK supports about 389,000 jobs through different activities including the manufacturing of vehicles, parts and accessories, and personal protective equipment, as well as motorcycle-related activities.
The study has also found that just in 2019, the motorcycle sector contributed about € 21.4 billion of GDP across Europe. All in all, every € 1 of GDP created directly by motorcycle businesses supported a further € 1.80 of GDP in other industries, due to the various knock-on expenditure impacts.
In terms of tax revenue, the motorcycle sector and related activities generated about € 16.6 billion, making motorcycling an important contributor to public finances, particularly in large markets like Germany, France, Italy, UK and Spain.
Europe-based motorcycle companies export goods for about € 2.1 billion per year
The report also analyzed the role of the motorcycle industry in the area of international trade. EU and UK based motorcycle companies export every year about € 2.1 billion worth of vehicles, parts and components to non-European customers.
The key export markets included the US, Switzerland, Australia and Japan. However, as the study stresses, “European exporters face high import tariffs in China and Thailand as well as India”, all of which are major markets with significant growth potential for European motorcycle manufacturers.
Significant mobility, time savings and environmental benefits
The study prepared by Oxford Economics also examined the additional benefits offered by motorcycles to their users, and to the environment. A scenario analysis suggests that if 5% of those who commute by car across Europe (5.3 million commuters) switched to motorcycles, the aggregate time savings would be 21.2 million days per annum — worth € 3.3 billion to these users.
Motorcycles were also found to offer substantial cost savings due to lower fuel use and operating costs. On average, the cost of commuting by motorcycle (€ 545) was nearly one-third of what it would cost to use a car (€ 1,435) across a year.
The research confirmed that motorcycles have a smaller environmental footprint than four-wheelers, with the average powered-two wheeler in the European vehicle fleet emitting about 99 g CO2/km, less than half of the 210 g CO2/km emitted by the average car (petrol and diesel). Interestingly, motorcycles up to 250 cc were found to emit on average 62 g CO2/km. About 62% of Europe’s two-wheelers fall into this category.
The economic and social importance of motorcycle leisure, sports and events
The study also examined the economic importance of motorcycle-related events, i.e. motorcycle sports, motorcycle trade fairs and events organized by OEMs.
In total, these activities contributed about € 2.1 billion to Europe’s GDP and supported about 38,400 jobs and € 1.2 billion in tax payments. A large part of that impact happened in local communities that greatly benefited from international tourists attending motorcycle-related events.
The study found that about 5 million spectators attended major motorcycle sporting events in 2019, with MotoGP attracting about 1.8 million spectators to its 12 European races in that season. Furthermore, about 2.5 million people attended motorcycle trade fairs and manufacturers' promotional events the same year.
The impact of COVID-19 on motorcycle manufacturers’ activities
An additional annex extended the analysis into 2020, gauging the impact that the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic had on the motorcycle industry. Motorcycle manufacturing activity in Europe was interrupted in a substantial way at the height of the pandemic in March - April 2020, with production falling substantially across the continent, largely linked to the impact of national lockdowns.
Amongst the major motorcycle manufacturing companies, the interruption to factory work was significant, but work in the HQ functions, R&D and trading held up relatively well. Also, motorcycle companies responded to Covid in such a way as to ensure that they are in a good position for the future, by largely maintaining the volume of work (in terms of hours) undertaken on R&D and design, and putting in place the staff protocols and infrastructure necessary to support widespread homeworking.
Motorcycle companies tended to protect active staff headcount, with hours per head temporarily cut in preference to direct layoffs.
Quotes
Stefan Pierer, President of ACEM and CEO of KTM AG, said:
“Oxford Economics’ research demonstrates that the motorcycle sector makes a valuable economic and societal contribution to Europe’s economy and mobility”.
“In spite of recent challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic or a difficult international trade environment, our sector remains strong. The motorcycle industry will continue to play a positive role in terms of job creation, economic growth and urban and leisure mobility”.
Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM, said:
“There has never been a better time to provide a snapshot of the motorcycle industry and related sectors. This study provides a detailed picture of the benefits that today’s motorcycles bring today to their users, to the people involved in the motorcycle sector, and to the economy and society at large”.
“Looking ahead, we expect mobility in Europe to undergo a profound transformation process. Motorcycle manufacturers within ACEM are committed to address those challenges, and to bring to market vehicles enabling even more efficient and more sustainable urban and recreational mobility. This is part of the forward-looking vision of the sector, to the horizon 2030 and beyond”.
Press contact
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua ACEM communications manager +32 496 52 65 17
![Example of motorcycle safety programme - HONDA Safety Institute [JPG]](/images/publiq/2021/HONDA.jpg){kind=link}
![Example of motorcycle safety programme - BMW [JPG]](/images/publiq/2021/bmw.jpg){kind=link}
![Example of motorcycle safety programmes - "Ready to Ride" by VSV [JPG]](/images/publiq/2021/AC_A0487.jpg){kind=link}
![Infographic - Economic importance [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Economic_importance.png){kind=link}
![Infographic - Environmental performance [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Environmental_performance.png){kind=link}
![Infographic - Motorcycle use [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Motorcycle_use.png){kind=link}
![Infographic - Motorcycle sports [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Motorcycle_sports.png){kind=link}