ACEM news
Press statement ahead of G20 summit - “The clock is ticking, time to end tariffs once and for all!”
29 Oct 2021

Ahead of the G20 Heads of State & Government Summit to be held in Rome this weekend, 74 sectors unrelated to the Section 232 steel and aluminium dispute urge U.S. & EU leaders to reach an agreement to remove retaliatory tariffs, and the threat of tariffs, on products unrelated to the dispute.

Since June 2018, our industries, suppliers and supply chains have greatly suffered from the imposition or threat of tariffs stemming from the steel & aluminium dispute, which is wholly unrelated to our sectors. The last 18 months have been particularly challenging due to the COVID-19 crisis. We are only slowly starting to rebound from this crisis, while facing supply chain and logistics disruptions. Tariffs, and the threat of tariffs, are acting as major barriers at a time when we want to focus on creating jobs, growth and investments in both Europe and the U.S.

We welcome the EU’s decision not to impose the second tranche of rebalancing tariffs on 1 June to de-escalate the Section 232 dispute and the pledge made by the U.S. and EU to find a solution before 1 December. However, with only a month left before the 1 December deadline, we now need to see a permanent resolution of this dispute which has already lasted far too long. This will allow the EU and U.S. to strengthen the transatlantic trading relationship, which is of key importance to our industries, and to tackle pressing common challenges together, in a spirit of unity.

Documents available to download

Press statement - “The clock is ticking, time to end tariffs once and for all!” say unrelated sectors [PDF]

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications manager
E.   
P. +32 02 23 0 97 32 

New Motor Insurance Directive, no compulsory European insurance for motorsport and related activities
25 Oct 2021

On 21 October, the European Parliament officially adopted the Provisional Agreement on the new Motor Insurance Directive, as agreed between Council and EP negotiators back in June. This is the final stretch of a lengthy process, started in April 2018, during which the Member States (Council) and the European Parliament worked out towards a compromise to finally revise the Motor Insurance Directive.

In the now adopted text (adopted by 689 votes in favour, 3 against and 4 abstentions) vehicles that do not enter public roads, such as motorcycles and cars that are exclusively used “in a restricted and demarcated area, with the purpose of and in a manner that the ordinary traffic, the public or any party unrelated to the activity cannot actually or potentially share the route that is being driven”, as well as electric assisted bicycles and electric kick-scooters, are excluded from the scope of the Directive. As far as motorsport activities are concerned, the scope of the Motor Insurance Directive has been clarified: vehicles intended exclusively for motorsports are excluded from the scope of the Directive too.

The Rapporteur of the text in the European Parliament, Dita Charanzová, emphasized that “today is a good day for all vehicle users in Europe and for anyone who unfortunately finds themselves injured in an accident. If your insurance company goes bankrupt, you will be protected. Harmonised claim history statements will mean no more excuses for discriminating against good drivers in the EU. We protected the uptake of e-bikes, confirming they do not require European insurance. And we ended the uncertainty around European motorsports, which can continue to race without impossible insurance requirements. These are concrete examples of a Europe that works for its citizens.”

ACEM welcomes the outcome of the revision as it should end unclarity and unrealistic over-regulation in this area and takes this opportunity to thank the Rapporteur for the excellent work on a very complex file. ACEM also salute the work of the other representatives of the motorcycle and motorsport and recreational sectors (FIM, FEMA, ATVEA and the FIA) and the good collaboration on this important topic.

The law now needs to be formally adopted by the Council, the other co-legislator, and published in the EU Official Journal. The new rules will start to apply 24 months after the entry into force, leaving time for the Member States to transpose the new Directive at national level.

Press contact

Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communications assistant.
E.
T. +32 22 30 97 32

ACEM to host online event on 17 November 2021 - “The ride to 2030 and beyond"
14 Oct 2021

The ACEM 2021 conference will bring together senior industry executives and leading policy-makers to discuss the motorcycle industry’s Vision for the future, the contribution of motorcycling to different forms of mobility in Europe, and how the sector fits within the current and future policies of the EU to the horizon 2030-2050.

Some of the topics that will be discussed include:

  • Motorcycling in cities, traffic congestion and local environmental policies
  • Regulation 168/2013 on type-approval of L-category vehicles and environmental standards
  • Engine efficiency and electrification of transport
  • Pollutant emissions (HC, NOx, PM)
  • GEAR 2030 and the future of the automotive sector in Europe
  • Latest market trends

Date and venue

24 January 2018

Renaissance Hotel. 19, Rue du Parnasse, Brussels

Programme of the event

 11:00 - 11:25 Keynote speeches 
 11:30 - 13:00 Panel discussion and Q&A session
 13:00 - 14:30 Walking lunch and networking coffee. Vehicle exhibition including electric prototypes developed by the RESOLVE consortium

 

Register now (mandatory to attend the event)

Keynote speakers

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Antti Peltomäki

Deputy Director-General
DG GROW
See Bio
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Stefan Pierer

ACEM President
CEO of KTM AG
See Bio

 

Panellists

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Bernd Lange

Member of the European Parliament
See Bio
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Joanna Szychowska

European Commission
DG GROW
See Bio
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Claire Depré

European Commission
DG MOVE
See Bio
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Greg Archer

Transport and Environment
Director for clean vehicles
See Bio
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Silvio Manicardi

FIM Europe
Second Deputy President
See Bio
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Erwin Segers

ACEM - Technical
affairs committee
See Bio
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Antonio Perlot

ACEM
Secretary General
See Bio

 

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM Communications manager
+32 (0) 22 30 97 32
ACEM position paper - Transport sustainability, sound emissions and noise
11 Oct 2021

Whilst modern transport systems largely contribute to the high levels of economic and social welfare in our societies, they also generate downsides in terms of traffic congestion, traffic casualties, climate change, air pollution and noise. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified traffic noise, including road, rail and air traffic, as the second most important cause of ill health in Western Europe, second only to air pollution caused by very fine particulate matter.

Besides working on technical improvements achievable on the product itself, ACEM calls for a multi-stakeholder approach to address this challenge and commits to working with all stakeholders involved to prevent excessive motorcycle noise:

  • working in synergy with all actors in the motorcycle sector, and in particular motorcycle users associations, to reach riders and raise their awareness on social responsibilities. Individual riders should choose to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
  • increasing collaboration with policy makers and authorities, at European and National level, to guide on appropriate technical requirements and increase oversight of the aftermarket by third parties.
  • supporting local and regional administrators, through participation in roundtables, to properly address specific noise issues in the urban environment and at hot spots (targeting riding behaviour, building awareness, contributing to the development of meaningful local policy measures…).

Documents available to download

ACEM position paper - Transport sustainability, sound emissions and noise: A collective response for a shared responsibility [PDF]

ACEM position paper - Decarbonisation of Transport: Powered Two-Wheelers (PTWs) on the road to 2050
05 Oct 2021

On the occasion of the adoption of the “Fit for 55” package by the European Commission and as a response to the EU’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, ACEM members renew their commitment to delivering L-category vehicles that contribute to the decarbonisation of transport, in a sustainable timeframe which supports jobs, growth and the environment.

This paper outlines the position of the motorcycle industry in relation to the decarbonisation targets set by the Green Deal, the subsequent European Climate Law and the path outlined by the European Commission’s Communication on Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

ACEM members aim to offer the market a variety of powertrains, each of which will contribute to decarbonisation, bearing in mind that electromobility will be essential for the future mobility of people and goods, especially in urban environments. At the same time, the motorcycle industry recognizes that two-wheelers with a conventional internal combustion engine still have an important role to play, especially in market segments that are the hardest to electrify.

It is important that the EU continues to support the adaptation of the motorcycle industry, by continuing to fund the research and development of low carbon technologies and by giving businesses the time required to develop the most robust and technically reliable EV systems.

In order to achieve this, several enabling conditions are necessary:

  • Combining battery technology and low carbon liquid fuels to maximise decarbonisation
  • Leaving political principles aside, for a technology neutral approach
  • Preparing the way forward, to support market uptake of these vehicles, by increasing the number of electric vehicles charging points throughout the EU.

Documents available to download

ACEM position paper - Decarbonisation of Transport: Powered Two-Wheelers (PTWs) on the road to 2050 [PDF]

The motorcycle industry voices concerns on the global semiconductors shortages
29 Sep 2021

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 in a 21st century environment - The motorcycle industry’s commitment to the environment
28 Sep 2021

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.

Document updated in November 2021.

Documents available to download

Riding in a 21st century environment - The motorcycle industry’s commitment to the environment [PDF]

Joint press release - Time to resolve remaining differences and forge a new transatlantic partnership
28 Sep 2021

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

Documents available to download

Joint press release - Time to resolve remaining differences & forge a new transatlantic partnership [PDF]

Note to editors

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. 

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