The economic importance of motorcycles in Europe

A research by Oxford Economics highlights the economic and mobility benefits of two-wheelers in Europe.

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The safe ride to the future 2.0

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.

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Motorcycle training

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

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Competitiveness

ACEM members support a European stable regulatory framework that fosters growth, jobs and investment in the L-category industry

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Urban Mobility

L-category vehicles save time and money for commuters, increase urban traffic fluidity and reduce congestion

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Environment

L-category vehicles sold in the EU comply with strict pollutant emission limits. Also, they have a limited environmental impact

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International trade

Together with a more vibrant domestic market, exports will help the industry to grow and to create new jobs in the EU

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Road safety

The industry has achieved high safety levels for existing products and continues to bring advanced and innovative vehicles to the market

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ACEM news
New research highlights the economic and mobility benefits of  two-wheelers in Europe
13 Sep 2021

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

Documents available to download

Report - Oxford Economics - The importance of motorcycles to Europe [PDF]

Infographic - Economic importance [PNG]

Infographic - Environmental performance [PNG]

Infographic - Motorcycle use [PNG]

Infographic - Motorcycle sports [PNG]

Media

 

ACEM welcomes political agreement on the Motor Insurance Directive by Council and Parliament
24 Jun 2021

More than 3 years after the publication of the European Commission’s proposal, and after intensive discussions between the two Institutions, the European Parliament and the Council have reached an agreement on the revision of the Motor Insurance Directive.

While the new and revised rules should better protect injured people, including domestic victims of an accident caused by a driver from another EU country, the agreement reached earlier this week will finally - and rightfully - exclude motorsports and related activities from the scope of the Directive.

ACEM welcomes the decision to recognize the specificity of motorsport activities. This was a redline for key organisations of the motorcycling world (FIM, FEMA and the FIA) which have constantly held that including “motorsports” under the scope of this piece of legislation would endanger the economic viability of this activity in many EU Member States.

The amendments agreed today should also clarify what vehicles are subject to compulsory insurance, and what the insurance coverage should be. ACEM understands that the Directive will cover, as an harmonised rule, accidents caused during the normal use of a vehicle as a means of transportation, including its use on private properties.

ACEM takes this opportunity to thank the European Parliament’s Rapporteur, Dita Charanzová, for her dedicated efforts to steer this important file during lengthy and complex discussions.

Next steps

The provisional agreement will now have to be formally approved by the European Parliament, and the Council, prior to its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.

The new Directive will apply 24 months after its entry into force, leaving ample time for the Member States to implement the new rules at national level.

More information

European Commission press release - “Motor Insurance: Commission welcomes European Parliament and Council agreement to update the Motor Insurance Directive”

European Parliament press release - “Deal reached on new rules to better protect road accident victims”

Press Contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager

+32 496 52 65 17

EU-US Summit: Motorcycle industry supports coalition call for immediate suspension of retaliatory tariffs
10 Jun 2021

ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles – The Motorcycle Industry in Europe) and USMMA (United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association) join the call on European authorities and the US Administration to agree, at next week’s Summit meeting on 15th June, to remove, as soon as possible, all tariffs on unrelated sectors impacted by the steel and aluminium dispute.

In a joint transatlantic industry statement, 113 associations have reiterated their call for the permanent removal of tariffs on sectors unrelated to the ongoing transatlantic trade disputes.

ACEM welcomed the positive joint announcement on 17th May 2021 of European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo of the start of discussions to address global steel and aluminium excess capacity. In particular, ACEM welcomed the suspension of the European Union’s additional 25% tariffs on US motorcycles, which were due to come into effect on 1st June 2021.

However, ACEM recalls that the motorcycle industry remains considerably hurt by the 25% rebalancing tariffs, which remain in place while negotiations are taking place.

ACEM therefore, calls upon European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the United States, Joe Biden, to take the opportunity of the EU-US Summit meeting in Brussels on 15th June, to commit at the highest level, their willingness to resolve the steel and aluminium dispute in the shortest possible timing.

Quote

“ACEM calls upon the Transatlantic Leadership to ensure that negotiations to tackle steel overcapacity concerns be concluded without delay and not to wait 6 months, during which time hundreds of millions of Euros of unrelated sectors’ money will be spent on unwarranted tariffs, instead of on investments and essential research and development for the rebuilding and greening of both EU and US economies”, said Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General.

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager

+32 496 52 65 17

Documents available to download

ACEM statement ahead of the EU-US Summit [PDF]

Joint statement - 113 U.S. and EU Organisations Urge EU and U.S. to Lift Retaliatory Tariffs on Products Unrelated to Transatlantic Trade Disputes [PDF]

ITF holds virtual Motorcyclists Safety Workshop “Riding in a Safe System” from 9 to 23 June 2021
27 May 2021

The workshop is co-organised by the International Transport Forum, the Swedish Transport Administration, VTI, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), and the motorcycle manufacturers associations (ACEM and IMMA). The workshop is a follow-up to the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Stockholm in February 2020, and will focus on the nine recommendations of the Academic Expert Group and their application to motorcyclists’ safety.

This event builds on the 2008 Lillehammer workshop, which was the first international event to bring together all key stakeholders and which has proven influential in setting the agenda for developing government motorcycle strategies across the world. It also builds on the 2015 ITF research report “Improving Safety for Motorcycle, Scooter and Moped Riders”, which made recommendations on a wide range of measures to improve the safety of motorcyclists.

For more information, complete schedule and registrations for the opening session and motorcycling in the regions session please go to: https://www.itf-oecd.org/motorcyclists-safety-workshop-riding-safe-system

About the OECD

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

+33 1 73 31 25 25

EU and US must urgently de-escalate trade conflict, and return to non-punitive tariff levels as soon as possible
17 May 2021

ACEM welcomes today’s joint announcement by the EU and the US on addressing global steel and aluminium excess capacity and the decision by the EU to temporarily suspend, for six months, the doubling of tariffs on US-made motorcycles above 500cc, which were set to come into effect on 1 June 2021.

Despite this positive development, the EU’s Rebalancing Measures remain in place at 25%. This means US motorcycles still bear a 31% tariff, which has a considerable negative affect bilateral trade and on European motorcycle dealers and customers. Furthermore, the suspension of the additional 25% is a temporary measure which still threatens significant harm to the European motorcycle sector, if a resolution is not found in the next 6 months. Therefore, ACEM continues to call for the removal of motorcycles from the EU’s list of products impacted by rebalancing tariffs.

Motorcycles have no place in an unrelated trade dispute.

ACEM supports all EU and US efforts to urgently de-escalate this trade conflict, and to return to non-punitive tariff levels as soon as possible.

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager
 
+32 496 52 65 17

Registrations of PTWs in largest European markets continue to raise in the first 3 months of 2021
04 May 2021

In the first three months of 2021, registrations of new motorcycles in five of the largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK) showed an increase of 10.3% (197,856 units), compared to the same period of 2020. March’s strong results (+67.6%) managed to offset the negative trend shown in the first two months of the year (-29.8% in January and -12.8% in February).

The registration trends in the motorcycle segment vary considerably across the countries. Some as Italy (+47.3%) and France (+15.1%) registered substantial increases, while others such as the UK (-21.3%), Germany (-4.1%) and Spain (-0.5%) still lag behind 2020 figures. This is linked to the different form of lockdowns imposed across European countries in 2020, and to the fact that last year’s basis for comparison in some cases was exceptionally low.

The moped segment performed slightly better. In the six largest European moped markets (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain), moped registrations reached 56,535 units, which represents an increase of 21.6% in comparison to last year’s figures.

Quote

Commenting on the current situation of the sector, Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said:

“The registration figures for the first quarter of 2021 show that the sector continues to recover from the C-19 crisis, although at a different pace across Europe”.

“It would not be fully accurate to compare this year’s figures with the ones from 2020 since last year, a large number of dealerships were closed and several European economies were under lockdown”.

“If we look at 2019, arguably a more normal year, 2021 motorcycle registrations are still behind (-4.14%), whilst moped registrations show a substantial increase (+19%).

“This shows that whilst uncertainties persist for European economies, at the same time the market is reactive. The attractiveness and convenience of powered two-wheelers for urban and peri-urban commuting, within a sanitary context in which public transportation has not been deemed a safe option, is confirmed. Also, more and more consumers are opting for motorcycling when it comes to safe leisure activities, such as touring closer to home”.

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager

+32 496 52 65 17

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - March 2021 [PDF]

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - March 2021 [XLS]

ACEM - Statistical releases - FAQ [PDF]

ACEM - Statistical releases - Glossary [PDF]

Coalition of EU and US associations appeal to suspend retaliatory tariffs on unrelated sectors
29 Apr 2021

ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles – The Motorcycle Industry in Europe) and USMMA (United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association) join the call on European authorities and US Administration to solve their differences without unduly impacting motorcycles.

A Coalition of 88 European and American associations has written to European Commission President von der Leyen and United States President Biden, supporting a suspension of the retaliatory tariffs in application, within EU-US ongoing trade disputes, hitting unrelated sectors.

The appeal by industry is made once again to build on the positive momentum of the suspension of tariffs imposed in connection to the World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes concerning civil aircraft subsidies for four months, hoping such agreement can be extended and built upon. The call is also made to overcome differences within the steel and aluminium trade dispute, in anticipation of the 1 June deadline and the application of further EU retaliatory measures, to avoid yet more collateral damage on unrelated sectors. Ultimately, the Coalition wishes a return to a positive, reciprocally rewarding transatlantic relationship, supporting economic growth and benefiting producers and manufacturers, their distribution partners, importers and consumers, and all associated sectors.

ACEM and USMMA join the call, as the motorcycle sector has repeatedly been unduly targeted within the EU-US trade escalation, over the last few years. US motorcycles are heavily impacted by the EU rebalancing measures devised in response to the US decision to impose a 10% tariff on European aluminium products and a 25% tariff on European steel products, as of 1 June 2018. Under Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2018/886, a list of US products, including motorcycles with a cylinder capacity above 500cc, have faced additional duties since 1 June 2018, when entering the EU.

As from 1 June 2021, European authorities are expected to double these additional customs duties, which will impose a 50% tariff on US-made motorcycles above 500cc, pursuant to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/563 of the European Commission of 31 March 2021.

Quote

“This development confirms the urgency to suspend all additional tariffs on unrelated sectors, to avoid damaging escalations. We call upon the European Commission and the new US Administration to restart a positive transatlantic trade dialogue. We continue to strongly support a return to reason and for both parties to find a solution”, said Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General.

Documents available to download

ACEM Press release - Transatlantic relationship: coalition of EU and US associations appeal to suspend retaliatory tariffs on unrelated sectors [PDF]

Coalition Press release - 88 European and American Organisations Urge EU and US to Remove Retaliatory Tariffs on Unrelated Products [PDF]

Coalition letter to President von der Leyen and President Biden [PDF]

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager

+32 496 52 65 17

Electric vehicles: Helping consumers identify the right recharging option with standardised labels
01 Mar 2021

A brand new harmonised set of labels for electric vehicles and charging stations will start to be used throughout Europe as of 20 March this year, in line with the requirements of the EU Directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (2014/94/EU).

As well as appearing on charging stations, the labels will be placed on all newly-produced electric mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles cars, as well as on vans, trucks, buses, coaches, in a clear and visible manner. The aim is to help consumers identify the right recharging option for their battery electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles by harmonising labelling across the entire EU.

In order to assist both consumers and the operators of charging points to understand these new labels, a coalition of European vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure operators and the electricity industry have published informative brochures. These brochures, in Q&A format, explain the purpose of these labels, their design and in which vehicles they will appear.

The brochures are now available online at www.fuel-identifiers.eu, alongside information on the harmonised fuel labels for internal combustion engines which were introduced in 2018.

Documents available to download

Press release - Electric vehicles: Helping consumers identify the right recharging option with standardised labels [PDF]

More information

https://fuel-identifiers.eu/

Contact us

European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers

Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrée, 1 B1040
Brussels Belgium

+32 (0)22 30 97 32

VAT BE0740.931.926

Transparency register - 02480451230-88