News

According to the latest data published today by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) registrations of motorcycles and mopeds in the EU have increased by 9.1% in 2016 compared to the the previous year. Total registrations in 2016 reached 1,307,200 units, with substantial increases in all of the largest European markets.

France remains the largest European market for light vehicles (253,067 units, +4.2% in 2016), followed by Italy (219,865 units, +11.8%), Germany (174,264 units, +15.1%), Spain (172,176 units, +15.9%) and the UK (128,637 units, +11.7%).

Strong growth in the motorcycle segment across Europe

In 2016 European registrations of motorcycles (i.e. vehicles with two- or three wheels and an engine capacity of more than 50cc) grew by 13.3% compared to 2015. The largest market for motorcycles in Europe was Italy, with 195,290 units registered (+13.5% on a year-on-year basis).

Other largest European motorcycle markets also showed positive trends: 174,624 vehicles were registered in Germany (+15.1%); 163,335 in France (+6.6%), 155,003 in Spain (+17%) and 119,889 in the UK (+13.4%).

Moped registrations in Europe

Registrations of mopeds (i.e. vehicles with two or three wheels and an engine capacity of 50cc or less) increased in some of the major European markets such as Spain (17,173 units, +7.6%) and the Netherlands (67,825 units, +2.9%), and remained stable in France (89,732 units, +0.1%) and Italy (24,575 units, -0.2%). A total of 327,826 mopeds were registered in Europe in 2016, representing a decrease of 3.5% on a year-on year basis.

Registrations by cylinder capacity

Most motorcycles, mopeds and quadricycles registered in Europe in 2016 have a cyclinder capacity of less than 125 cc (672,551 units, 49%). Vehicles with a cyclinder capacity between 126cc and 500cc accounted for 19% of the total (268,103 units), quite close to the number of registered vehicles with engines between 500c and 1000cc (20.6%, 283,868 units). Lastly, vehicles with engines of 1000cc or more totalled 150,444 units (10.9% of the total).

Registrations of electric vehicles

The largest markets for electrically-propelled mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles were: France (7,396 units), the Netherlands (5,203 units), Italy (2,385 units), Spain (1,604 units) and Germany (1,501 units). Of all mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles registered in the EU, 1.6% were electric vehicles. Internal combustion vehicles and vehicles equipped with hybrid propulsion represented 98.4% of the total registrations.

Quote

The Secretary General of the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), Antonio Perlot (Italian) said:

• “2016 has been a very positive year for the industry, with registrations increasing in most European countries, particularly in the largest European markets: France (253,067 units), Italy (219,865 units), Germany (174,264 units), Spain (172,176 units) and the UK (128,637 units)”.

• “Strong demand for light vehicles across Europe is a testament to their inherent advantages. Mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles have reduced purchasing and running costs, are easier to park than cars, and reduce travelling times and congestion in cities”.

• “Nothwithstanding this, our sector still faces a delicate situation. Although more than 1.3 million vehicles were registered in Europe in 2016, that figure is about half the 2.43 million units registered in 2007 before the economic crisis hit”. 

• “According to our latest estimates, about 156,000 jobs are generated directly or indirectly by our sector in the EU. Activities such as manufacturing of vehicles, parts and componentes, as well as in repair and maintenance of vehicles, or manufacturing of protective equipment to name just a few examples, create jobs all over Europe, particularly in countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and the UK”.

• “Exports of motorcycles, parts and accesories to foreign countries are essential to sustaining jobs in the motorcycle sector in Europe. In addition to a stronger domestic European market, we need a European trade policy that not only secures strategic free trade agreements with key partners but also one that prevents protectionist policies abroad”.

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical data - December 2016 [xls]

ACEM - Statistical press release - December 2016 [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future ACEM news and press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
P. +32 (0)22 30 97 32
E.

The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) is deeply concerned about the current decision of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to consider imposing additional customs duties of up to 100% on European motorcycle exports between 51cc and 500cc as of March 2017. This potential measure follows a formal petition to the USTR from the American beef industry, which has requested the opening of a Section 301 proceeding under the 1974 US Trade Act. This seeks to impose additional duties on EU exports to the US as a retaliatory measure against EU restrictions on American beef imports.

The new motorcycle tariff currently under consideration could not only inflict considerable damage to European companies that manufacture goods used by American citizens for both leisure and mobility. It would also negatively affect US small- and medium- enterprises that provide distribution, dealership and repair services, and could potentially lead to the destruction of thousands of jobs in the US.

ACEM, in line with the motorcycle sector at large in Europe and in the United States, calls on the USTR to properly assess this potential measure and to avoid creating an artificial and counterproductive trade barrier that will certainly not encourage a favourable resolution of the beef dispute and that will be damaging for both the EU and the US economies.

Quote

ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said:

“There is no justification for this measure, and the motorcycle sector should not be dragged into trade disputes over food products. ACEM, as the representative of motorcycle manufacturers in Europe, is following this issue closely and presented its observations before the USTR to obtain an immediate exclusion of European motorcycles from the list of products subject to increased duties”.

“We should be looking for new opportunities to promote transatlantic commerce and increase prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic, instead of creating new artificial barriers that hurt European companies, reduce American consumers’ choice and harm jobs in the US”.

“Unilateral measures such as this one will not encourage a favourable resolution of the beef dispute. ACEM calls on the USTR to properly assess the potential measure and counts on the support of the European Commission to ensure that European companies can compete in the US market on fair terms and are not hindered by artificial and counterproductive trade barriers”.

Press contact

For further information or to receive future ACEM news and press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
P. +32 (0)22 30 97 32
E.

Background

• ACEM, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, 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 17 manufacturing companies and 17 national industry associations in 14 different European countries. About 156,300 jobs depend on the motorcycle, moped, tricycle and quadricycle industry in Europe.

• 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, international trade negotiations, etc.

• The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is a Cabinet member who serves as the President’s principal trade adviser, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues. He is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity and direct investment policy.

• Under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, the USTR is entitled to take unilateral actions and to impose duties upon foreign exports. It is not the first time the European motorcycle industry is targeted by the USTR. In 1999 and 2008, European motorcycles had also been included in – and subsequently removed – from a similar retaliation list.

More information

• ACEM. Position Paper: Request to reinstate action taken in connection with the European Union measures concerning meat and meat products [docket n° USTR-2016-0025) - Comments of the Motorcycle Industry in Europe (ACEM). http://www.acem.eu/publications/item/427-acem-comments-on-the-request-to-reinstate-action-taken-in-connection-with-the-european-union-measures-concerning-meat-and-meat-products 

• Office of United States Trade Representative (USTR). Request to Reinstate Action Taken in Connection with European Union's Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USTR-2016-0025-0001 

• White House. Press release: “Obama Administration Takes Action to Address European Union’s Unfair Trade Practices against U.S. Beef Industry”. https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2016/december/obama-administration-takes-action

Motorcycle registrations in the largest EU markets - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - grew by 8.5% during the first 11 monhs of 2016, compared to the same period of 2015, reaching 742,515 units.

The strongest performance was recorded in Italy (+11.4%, 186,203 units), followed by Spain (+12.2%, 139,118 units), the UK (+8.5%, 109,715 units), Germany (+7%, 157,156 units) and France (+3.5%, 150,323 units).

Documents available to download

Statistical data - Motorcycle registrations in key EU markets - November 2016 [xls]

Press release - Motorcycle registrations in key EU markets - November [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer E. , P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32.

At least 1,151,043 powered-two and three-wheelers were registered during the first 10 months of 2016 in the EU. This represents an increase of 4.5% compared to the 1,101,860 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015.

Registrations performed positively in all of the key European markets including Italy (+9.9%, 199,702 units), Spain (+9.8%, 141,519 units), UK (+6.7%, 110,003 units), Germany (+3.4%, 178,845 units) and France (+1.2%, 217,423 units).

Motorcycle registrations

Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 7.4% during the first 10 months of 2016 on a year-on year basis. A total of 870,741 motorcycles were registered between January and October 2016, against 811,013 during the same period of 2015.

Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in all of the largest European markets, including Italy (+11.6%, 178,109 units), Spain (+10.3%, 127,265 units), UK (+8%, 102,617 units), Germany (+5.6%, 151,189 units) and France (+2.4%, 140,698 units).

Moped registrations

At least 280,302 mopeds were registered during the first nine months of 2016 in the EU, whilst 290,847 had been registered during the same period of 2015. This represents a decrease of 3.6%.

Moped registrations increased in Spain (+6.1%, 14,254 units) and the Netherlands (+2.9%, 60,618 units). They remained stable in France (-0.9%, 76,455 units) but declined in Italy (-2.2%, 21,593 units), Germany (-7.3%, 27,656 units) and Poland (-14.3%, 22,462 units).

Documents available to dowload

ACEM - Statistical data - October 2016 [xls]
ACEM - Statistical press release - October 2016 [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
E. , P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32.

Highways England, the company responsible for running over 4000 miles of England’s motorways and major trunk roads, is to become the third partner in a landmark collaboration to improve motorcycle rider safety. The government owned company will join the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) as an equal partner in facilitating practical changes to roads, as detailed in a jointly written whitepaper: ‘Realising the Motorcycling Opportunity: A Motorcycle Safety and Transport Policy Framework’.

The Framework calls for motorcycles and scooters to be included in mainstream transport policy and for rider safety to be consistently factored into national road design, which has not been the case in the past. Seven key areas have been identified, which would make roads safer for riders, along with actions as to how this can be achieved practically. These include: safer infrastructure, expanding road user education, increasing awareness and training and working in partnership with cycle groups.

The Framework also advocates unlocking the benefits of motorcycles and demonstrating exactly how they offer a practical solution to congestion, as well as improving personal mobility for people without access to other forms of transport. 

Highways England has a goal of bringing the number of people killed or injured on the strategic road network as close as possible to zero by 2040. It will work with police and MCIA across all seven areas identified in the Framework and will lead on ‘safer infrastructure’. 

Quotes

Mike Wilson, Highways England’s Chief Highways Engineer, said: “Safety is our top priority and we believe no one should be harmed when travelling or working on our road network. We are committed to both reducing the number of motorcycle incidents and casualties on our roads and to improving the experience motorcyclists have on those roads; this influential partnership with the industry and police supports that commitment.”

Deputy Chief Constable for North Yorkshire Police, Tim Madgwick, who is the national motorcycle lead for the National Police Chiefs Council says: “The Police service is on the front line, dealing with the devastation that is caused to families and the greater community by road traffic collisions.  The opportunity to work with both Highways England and the Motorcycle Industry Association gives us far greater scope to make our roads a safer place, not only for those who use powered two wheelers, but for all road users.  In addition to the safety aspect, encouraging greater use of motorcycles will also contribute greatly to reducing congestion and therefore journey times across the country.”

Karen Cole, Director of Safety and Training, says: “Highways England brings significant resource to this ambitious project; financially and in terms of influence, expertise and evidence-based decision making; add this to police backing and we have an unprecedented opportunity to make a huge difference to riders”.

Documents available to download

Press release - Roads to become safer for motorcyclists through new partnership [pdf]

Realising the Motorcycling Opportunity A Motorcycle Safety and Transport Policy Framework [pdf]

Press contact

For more information on this initiative, please contact: Stevie Muir. MCIA public relations and communications officer

E.  P. +44 (0)79 89 37 85 97

Motorcycle registrations in the largest EU markets - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - grew by 7.4% during the first three quarters of 2016, compared to the same period of 2015, reaching 649,599 units.

The strongest performance was recorded in Italy (+12, 166,602 units), followed by Spain (+10.2%, 114,988 units), the UK (+8.7%, 94,807 units), Germany (+4.5%, 143,367 units) and France (+2.1%, 129,935 units).

Documents available to download

Statistical data - Motorcycle registrations in key EU markets - September 2016 [xls]

Press release - Motorcycle registrations in key EU markets - September [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
E. , P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32.

A total of at least 902,791 powered-two and three-wheelers were registered during the first eight months of 2016 in the EU. This represents an increase of 3.3% compared to the 874,075 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015.
Registrations performed positively in most of the key European markets including Italy (+10.6%, 167,540 units), Spain (+8.6%, 111,204 units), UK (+5.6%, 85,409 units) and Germany (+2.5%, 130,437 units). They remained stable in France (-0.1%, 173,588 units).

Motorcycle registrations

Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 6% during the first eight months of 2016 on a year-on year basis. A total of 718,539 motorcycles were registered between January and August 2016, against 678,012 during the same period of 2015.
Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in all of the largest European markets, including Italy (+12.2%, 150,028 units), Spain (+9.4%, 100,297 units), UK (+6.9%, 79,872 units), Germany (+2.5%, 130,437 units) and France (+1%, 115,548 units).

Moped registrations

A total of 191,644 mopeds were registered during the first eight months of 2016 in the EU, whilst 201,251 had been registered during the same period of 2015. This represents a decrease of 4.8%.
Moped registrations increased in Spain (+2.2%, 10,097 units) and the Netherlands (+0.1%, 48,046 units) but decreased in Austria (-1.5%, 11,118 units), Italy (-1.6%, 17,512 units), France (-2.1%, 58,040 units) and Poland (-16.8%, 19,046 units).

Documents available to dowload

ACEM - Statistical data - August 2016 [xls]
ACEM - Statistical press release - August 2016 [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
E. , P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32.

On 3 and 4 of October 2016 the German Institute for Motorcycle Safety (Institut für Zweiradsicherheit e.V., IFZ) organised its annual conference on powered-two wheeler safety. Close to 200 attendees including road safety experts, policy-makers and industry representatives had the opportunity to exchange views and discuss state-of-the-art research on powered-two wheeler safety.

The presentations delivered during the conference addressed a wide range of issues including motorcycle riding techniques, traffic filtering, modellisation of personal protective equipment, use forward collision warning systems, and the potential safety benefits of eCall systems for motorcycles. Also, as part of the event, ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot moderated a round table panel on the opportunites and challenges future of intelligent transport systems for the motorcycle sector in the Euroepan Union.

The IFZ safety conference took place against the background of the 2016 edition of INTERMOT in Cologne, which attracted about 220,000 visitors from 95 countries. 40 new motorcycle models were launched by vehicle manufacturers during the fair.

The conference programme and all the presentations delivered during the IFZ safety conference will be made available at the IFZ website: www.ifz.de 

For information on INTERMOT please visit http://www.intermot-cologne.com 

Documents available to download

IFZ 2016 conference - Programme [pdf]

INTERMOT 2016 - Press release [pdf]

Press contact

Matthias Haasper, Institut für Zweiradsicherheit e.V.
E.  P. +49(0) 20 18 35 39 32

A total of 830,468 powered-two and three-wheelers were registered during the first seven months of 2016 in the EU. This represents an increase of 2.1% compared to the 813,116 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015.

Registrations performed positively in most of the key European markets including Italy (155,425 units, +9.8%), Spain (98,858 units, +7.9%) and the UK (77,069 units, +5.8%). They declined in France (154,642 units, -1.3%) and Germany (132,874 units, -2.2%).

Motorcycle registrations

Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 5.5% during the first seven months of 2016 on a year-on year basis. A total of 651,444 motorcycles were registered between January and July 2016, against 617,431 during the same period of 2015.

Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in most of the largest European markets, including Italy (139,673 units, +11.5%), Spain (89,410 units, +8.8%), UK (72,200 units, +6.9%) and Germany (116,322 units, +1.9%) but they decreased in France (105,206 units, -0.2%).

Moped registrations

A total of 188,040 mopeds were registered during the first seven months of 2016 in the EU, whilst 203,421 had been registered during the same period of 2015. This represents a decrease of 7.6%.

Moped registrations increased in the Netherlands (41,368 units, +0.7%) but decreased in Italy (15,752 units, -2.9%), France (49,436 units, -3.4%), Poland (15,945 units, -20%) and Germany (16,552 units, -23.8%).

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical data - July 2016 (xls)

ACEM - Statistical press release - July 2016 (pdf)

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer

E.  

P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32

A total of 679,777 powered-two and three-wheelers were registered during the first six months of 2016 in the EU. This represents an increase of 5.5% compared to the 644,474 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015.

Registrations performed positively in key European markets, including Italy (129,616 units, +14.2%), Spain (80,878 units, +12.2%), UK (66,007 units, +7.4%), Germany (100,749 units, +4.2%) and France (128,182 units, +0.6%).

Motorcycle registrations

Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 8.1% during the first six months of 2016 on a year-on year basis. A total of 544,870 motorcycles were registered between January and June 2016, against 504,162 during the same period of 2015. Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in the largest European markets, including Italy (116,985 units, +15.9%), Spain (73,323 units, +13.5%), UK (61,859 units, +8.3%), Germany (100,749 units, +4.2%) and France (89,153 units, +1.7%).

Moped registrations

A total of 134,907 mopeds were registered during the first six months of 2016 in the EU, whilst 140,312 had been registered during the same period of 2015. This represents a decrease of 3.9%. Moped registrations increased in the Netherlands (34,139 units, +4.2%) and Italy (12,631 units, +0.4%). They decreased in Austria (7,873 units, -1.1%), France (39,029 units, -1.8%) and Poland (12,515 units, -21.4%)

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical data - June 2016 (xls)

ACEM - Statistical press release - June 2016 (pdf)

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer

E. , T. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32