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
Registrations in key European markets during the nine first months of 2023 show motorcycles on the rise and mopeds reducing
20 Nov 2023

New motorcycle registrations in five of the largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) reached 873,985 units during the first nine months of 2023. This represents an increase of approximately 11.8% compared to the same period in 2022 (781,839 units).

Motorcycle registration volumes significantly increased in Italy (271,552 units, +19.4% year-on-year) and Spain (154,019 units, +13.4%), with Germany (190,490 units, +9.6%) and France (168,118 units, +8.7%) also showing an upward trend. Volumes remained broadly stable in the UK (89,806 units, -0.4%).

Moped registrations reached a total volume of 155,098 units in the six European moped markets monitored by ACEM (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain). This registration volume represents a reduction of 25.0% in comparison to last year (206,927 units). The reduction is widespread in all monitored countries although less so in Belgium (-2.7%) and Spain (-2.8%).

 

Quote

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

“Strong growth of the European market in the first nine months highlights consumers’ sustained long-term interest in powered two-wheelers, both for daily commuting and for leisure.  Early figures for October confirm the positive trend for motorcycles, with moped volumes partially recovering”.

 

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - September 2023 [PDF]
ACEM - Statistical press release - January - September 2023 [XLS]
ACEM - Statistical releases - FAQ [PDF]
ACEM - Statistical releases - Glossary [PDF]

 

Press contact

José Diez

Manager EU Affairs and Communications

 

Note for editors

As of 2020, ACEM statistical releases cover the following:

  • For the motorcycle segment: Italy, France, Germany, Spain and UK. These countries account for about 80% of motorcycle registrations in the EU + UK block.
  • For the moped segment: France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain. These countries account for about 80% of moped registrations in the EU + UK block.
  • Moped figures include L1eB vehicles (two-wheel mopeds) and L2e vehicles (three-wheel mopeds). Some countries may also include L1e-A vehicles (powered cycles) depending on their administrative practices.

About ACEM

  • The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) represents manufacturers of mopeds, motorcycles, three-wheelers and quadricycles (L-category vehicles) in Europe.
  • ACEM members include 18 manufacturing companies: BMW Motorrad, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), Ducati Motor holding, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, MV Agusta, Peugeot Scooters, Piaggio, Polaris Industries, Qooder, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph Motorcycles, Yamaha and Zero Motorcycles.
  • ACEM also represents 20 motorcycle industry associations in 17 different European countries. About 300,000 jobs depend on the L-category industry in Europe. There are more than 39 million motorcycles and scooters on Europe’s roads (2019 estimate).

 

The two-wheeler sector gathers at EICMA in Milan
13 Nov 2023

The 80th edition of the International Exhibition of Two-Wheelers (EICMA) welcomed around 500.000 visitors last week making Milan the world capital of the motorcycle sector with the presence of global brands, public authorities, industry organisations and, above all, passionate riders.

ACEM has actively participated this year by engaging with members and by contributing to external activities in the promotion of motorcycling. Concretely, our Board of Directors gathered to discuss the sector’s approach towards a safer, greener and digital-resilient mobility set on the EU agenda. However, the industry’s main claim is the need to create a more favourable policy framework to avoid losing competitiveness at global level especially when facing emerging countries mainly from Asia.

In parallel, our secretary general Antonio Perlot was invited to address a keynote at the Motorcycle Conference “Riding Future Technologies 8.0” organized by the engineering consultancy Ricardo. Experts from different brands discussed the challenges and trends of alternative fuels in the motorcycle industry including the implications of design and software to ensure the best performance under different environments.

The importance of motorcycles in cities was showcased in the new space dedicated to Urban Mobility. ACEM participated in the roundtable referring to our Vision2030+ that summarises efforts from the manufacturers to provide clean, efficient and affordable solutions for passenger mobility and last-mile logistics. In this sense, ACEM members continue developing innovative vehicles such as mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, tricycles and light quadricycles already present in most of the European cities, or ambitious projects such as the swappable batteries consortium for electric lightweight-category vehicles.

Position on the revision of the Driving License Directive
19 Sep 2023

The European motorcycle manufacturers stress their main concerns on the report presented yesterday at the TRAN Committee by MEP Karima Delli for L-category vehicles (mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles).

Considering the specificities of the sector across Europe, the initial proposal from the European Commission provides a more effective approach on safety and mobility. The document properly matches diverse realities and ensures inclusiveness for all citizens especially in urban areas. It also allows Member States to select the most appropriate licensing system to their national contexts and specific needs.

Ahead of the coming legislative discussions, ACEM urges the co-legislators to align to the EC proposal regarding:

  • Maintaining age requirements
  • Preserving the flexibility of MS in regulating access to the different L-category vehicles
  • Refraining from the concept of setting speed limits in traffic for different license categories

  

Additional documents

ACEM Position Paper

Joint call to stimulate the European automotive industry´s transformation and enhance competitiveness
06 Sep 2023

As the voice of the motorcycle industry in Europe, ACEM joins main stakeholders from the automotive value chain calling on the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to stimulate sectoral transformation and enhance competitiveness.

The sector of two, three and four wheels is firmly committed to shaping the green and digital transition while continuing a constructive dialogue with public authorities. However, the rise of several challenges is putting further pressure on the decarbonisation of transport and undermining the transformation of our industry.

The signatories have prioritised six key actions before the end of the current mandate:

  1. Develop a robust industrial strategy;
  2. Scale up a European zero-emission market and battery value chain;
  3. Ensure a stable and coherent regulatory environment for the sector;
  4. Enhance the skills agenda and Just Transition framework;
  5. Improve transport affordability; and
  6. Ensure a global level playing field.

Future inaction from law makers at this critical moment will undermine the European automotive industry and put at risk employment in a sector that generates more than 13 million EU jobs.

 

Full document here: 

Joint statement

Registrations in key European markets in the first half of 2023 confirm growing interest for L-category vehicles
26 Jul 2023

New motorcycle registrations in five of the largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) reached 600,784 units during the first half of 2023.

This represents an increase of 11.3% compared to the same period in 2022 (539,644 units). Motorcycle registration volumes significantly increased in Italy (192,497 units, +19.1% year-on-year) and Spain (102,626 units, +11.7%), Germany (129,964 units, +10.1%) and France (116,224 units, +7.5%) showed an upward trend. Volumes remained broadly stable in UK (59,741 units, -0.9%). Moped registrations reached a total volume of 99,782 units in the six European moped markets monitored by ACEM (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain). This registration volume represents an overall reduction of 25.8% in comparison to last year (134,503 units), widespread in the monitored countries, except for Belgium (15,864 units, +2.8%).

 

Quote

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

“When it comes to long term EU market trends, over the last three years motorcycles have shown an outstanding progression nearing +50%.  Mopeds an overall reduction of -12% with a growing share of electric propulsion, even if fluctuating due to the effect of incentives.  All in all, data confirms consumers’ growing interest for L-category vehicles, for convenient short range mobility and for leisure”.

 

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - June 2023 [PDF]
ACEM - Statistical press release - January - June 2023 [XLS]
ACEM - Statistical releases - FAQ [PDF]
ACEM - Statistical releases - Glossary [PDF]

 

Press contact

Antonio Perlot

ACEM Secretary General

 

Note for editors

As of 2020, ACEM statistical releases cover the following:

  • For the motorcycle segment: Italy, France, Germany, Spain and UK. These countries account for about 80% of motorcycle registrations in the EU + UK block.
  • For the moped segment: France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain. These countries account for about 80% of moped registrations in the EU + UK block.
  • Moped figures include L1eB vehicles (two-wheel mopeds) and L2e vehicles (three-wheel mopeds). Some countries may also include L1e-A vehicles (powered cycles) depending on their administrative practices.

About ACEM

  • The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) represents manufacturers of mopeds, motorcycles, three-wheelers and quadricycles (L-category vehicles) in Europe.
  • ACEM members include 18 manufacturing companies: BMW Motorrad, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), Ducati Motor holding, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, MV Agusta, Peugeot Scooters, Piaggio, Polaris Industries, Qooder, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph Motorcycles, Yamaha and Zero Motorcycles.
  • ACEM also represents 20 motorcycle industry associations in 17 different European countries. About 300,000 jobs depend on the L-category industry in Europe. There are more than 39 million motorcycles and scooters on Europe’s roads (2019 estimate).

 

Job opening at ACEM: Regulatory Officer (Junior position)
24 Jul 2023


ACEM is looking for a Regulatory Officer to join its Secretariat in Brussels, to support the motorcycle industry in a fast evolving regulatory environment.

 

About ACEM

The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), is the trade association that represents manufacturers of powered-two and three-wheelers as well as quadricycles (L-category vehicles) in Europe.

ACEM members include 18 manufacturing companies and 17 national industry associations in 14 different European countries. ACEM works closely with the EU institutions, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders, in different policy-areas. These include type-approval of L-category vehicles, environmental legislation, road safety and transport policies and international trade.

 

Job purpose and description

Based in the Brussels office, the function will report directly to the Technical Manager.

The Regulatory Officer will address issues related to:

  • European and international vehicle type-approval regulations, and other regulations that influence the design of motorcycles and affect the industry and its products.
  • European and International standards.

Key tasks will include:

  • Monitoring, reporting, and coordinating activities with experts from the ACEM membership, facilitating the building-up of common industry positions.
  • Representing the Motorcycle Industry, in both European and international technical meetings.

 

Requirements

  • University level education, either engineering degree (automotive, electromechanical or similar) with interest in regulatory affairs, or European studies/law with interest in vehicle technology
  • 1-2 years working experience, preferably in an industry association or in the motorcycle or automotive industry (regulatory affairs, vehicle or component manufacturing, type-approval or R&D) or equivalent
  • Experience with EU and/or national institutions are a plus
  • Fluent in English (spoken and written); knowledge of other European languages is a plus
  • Ability to work in a dynamic and multicultural team, working in an international environment
  • Ability to work autonomously on the assigned tasks in a result-oriented way
  • Good analytical and communication skills
  • Flexibility and ability to travel

 

Application

  • Please send your CV, motivation letter, and form to
  • Only shortlisted candidates will receive a reply and be invited for an interview
  • Deadline for applications: 15 September 2023.

Photo by Headway on Unsplash

Initial considerations on the future framework for Vehicle End-of Life (EoL)
19 Jul 2023

In line with our Vision 2030+, ACEM welcomes the proposal for revision of the Vehicle End-of Life (ELV) Directive published by the European Commission on the 13th July.

Circular economy stands as key priority to improve the environmental performance of the L-category sector. The inclusion of L-category vehicles (two-wheel motorcycles, powered tricycles, light and heavy quadricycles) under the scope of the future Regulation represents a positive step ahead to prepare the sector and accelerate the compliance of the industry with EU objectives in transport and mobility.

ACEM and its members support a comprehensive framework for the collection and treatment operations for L-category vehicles ensuring a positive contribution towards the Green Deal goals with several benefits for the society. However, further assessment of technical and economical specificities for various sub-categories should be considered to ensure a successful achievement of the ELV objectives and full alignment with other vehicles.

As well, a coherent approach with other pieces of legislation will provide consistency in the future framework on vehicle design and production putting Europe at the forefront of circularity in terms of reusability, recyclability and recoverability of materials including L-category vehicles.

The ACEM Secretariat will continue a constructive dialogue with EU institutions during the coming months and provide know-how and good experiences from the sector.

Additional information 

For further information about ACEM position on the inclusion of PTWs in the End-of -Life Vehicles Directive, please click here

Contacts

Francesco Fenoglio
Policy Advisor

+32 478 39 32 01

 

 

Connected Motorcycle Consortium: First Demo Event
03 Jul 2023

The Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC) will organize an event in September 2023 to demonstrate several interactions between a car and a motorcycle where C-ITS applications or Advanced Driver Assistant Systems will help to mitigate the chance of a collision.

As a collective effort of manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, and associations, the CMC has been working towards integrating Powered Two Wheelers into the future landscape of connected mobility.

 

The CMC journey began with the launch of the 'Basic Specification' in 2020. Since then, the CMC has progressed further and will show results of its research in a Demo event at Dekra Technology Center at Lausitzring in September 2023.

 

Alongside world-leading motorcycle manufacturers such as BMW, Honda, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, KTM, Suzuki, and Yamaha, prominent carmakers including BMW, Honda, Lamborghini, and VW will also be participating in the event. The invited guests will have the opportunity to experience the systems live by taking the first-row seat, as passenger in one of the cars.

The event will also provide a platform for presenting key findings from the Consortium’s accident research, insights into rider behaviour, and detailed information about safety applications.

 

ACEM is associate member of CMC.

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