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Following the publication of the European Commission’s Communication on “A Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy”, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, ACEM, welcomes the Commission’s plans to improve the deployment of alternative fuel recharging infrastructure.

According to ACEM’s estimations, only between 1% and 2% out of all L-category vehicles registered in Europe in 2014 were electric models. Ensuring that the adequate infrastructure is in place could substantially increase consumer acceptance of vehicles running on electricity or other alternative fuels. Moreover, the European Commission should do its utmost to include an explicit reference to the Type 3a plug standard in Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.

ACEM manufacturers are carrying out in house development projects on electrically- and hydrogen-propelled vehicles, as well as hybrid models. However, if the EU is to “become a leader in electro-mobility” further European support should complement industry’s efforts in this area. This should be done through funding for research and demonstration projects aimed at informing citizens.

ACEM also believes that there is need to have similar incentives across the EU in order to support market uptake of vehicles running on alternative fuels. L-category vehicles should benefit from the same support measures dedicated to other means of transport, and support schemes should be similar in all European countries.

Commenting on the Commission’s Communication, ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said: “L-category vehicles are smaller, lighter and more specialised than other vehicles. They reduce traffic congestion, bring significant environmental benefits and are a perfect candidate for running on alternative fuels. However, if the share of alternatively fuelled vehicles is to increase, decision-makers will have to achieve three major objectives: a higher availability of charging infrastructure, more public support for research projects, and providing adequate incentives to consumers”.

Documents available to download

ACEM comments on the Communication on an Energy Union.pdf [0.23 MB]

Note for editors. ACEM, the Motorcycle Industry in Europe, is the professional body representing the interests and combined skills of 14 manufacturers of L-category vehicles (mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles) and 18 national associations. The sector accounts for 150,000 jobs across the European Union.

Press contact

For further information or to receive future ACEM news and press releases please contact Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua, ACEM communications officer on +32 (0)22 30 97 32 or by email at

The launch of the new CARS 2020 Action Plan for automotive industry was announced on 4 February 2015 by Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner responsible for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMES.

The new Action Plan will help foster competitiveness of the automotive industry and guide the sector through the ongoing mobility revolution.   

Following the previous successful CARS 2020 process, the new plan aims to help the sector face new challenges stemming from technological changes, globalisation and a new approach to mobility that requires a coordinated approach on the EU level.

The plan, which will cover a period of two years, aims at re-shaping the position of the European automotive sector and give it a proper direction for future development. A High Level Group with a broad participation of the Commissioners and Member States will be created.

The new process focuses on two main objectives: strengthening the competiveness of the automotive sector, both in Europe and externally; driving the sector through the ongoing mobility revolution and making Europe the key player and trendsetter in the domains of innovative modes of transport and intelligent transport systems.

Further details as well as the very final structure of the process will be discussed during the next meeting of the Competitiveness Council at the beginning of March 2015.

On 20 January Jaguar Land Rover announced that they are developing a range of new technologies that would use colours, sounds and touch inside the car to alert drivers to potential hazards and prevent accidents involving motorcycles and bicycles. Earlier this month, Volvo Cars and POC demonstrated a wearable cycling tech concept at International CES in Las Vegas.

Sensors on the car will detect when another road user is approaching and identify it as bicycle or motorbike. Bike Sense will then make the driver aware of the potential hazard before the driver sees it.

To help the driver understand where the bike is in relation to their car, the audio system will make it sound as if a bicycle bell or motorbike horn is coming through the speaker nearest the bike, so the driver immediately understands the direction the cyclist is coming from. Moreover, the system would intelligently prioritise the nearest hazards so the driver would not be overwhelmed or distracted with light or sound. Bike Sense will also help prevent vehicle doors being opened into the path of bikes when the vehicle is parked.

Bike Sense would warn all passengers of an approaching cyclist, motorbike or car through sound and light inside the vehicle. If any passenger continues to open the door, the door handle will light up, vibrate and buzz to alert them to the danger.

Volvo Cars and POC demonstrate wearable cycling tech concept at International CES 2015

Earlier this month, Volvo Cars and POC demonstrated a wearable cycling tech concept at International CES in Las Vegas (6-9 January 2015). The technology consists of a connected car and helmet prototype that will establish 2-way communication offering proximity alerts to Volvo drivers and cyclists and thereby avoid accidents.

Using a popular smartphone app for bicyclists, like Strava, the cyclist’s position can be shared through the Volvo cloud to the car, and vice versa. If an imminent collision is calculated, both road users will be warned – and enabled to take the necessary action to avoid a potential accident.

The Volvo driver will be alerted to a cyclist nearby through a head-up display alert – even if he happens to be in a blind spot, e.g. behind a bend or another vehicle or hardly visible during night time. The cyclist will be warned via a helmet-mounted alert light.  

The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA), the body which represents national rider groups across Europe, will host on 2 and 3 February 2015 its annual European Motorcyclist Forum. This year’s event will cover several topics relevant to motorcycling safety including the results of the RIDERSCAN project and its implications for the European Commission’s road safety policy orientations for 2011-2020. 

The Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA), the body which represents national rider groups across Europe, will host on 2 and 3 February 2015 its annual European Motorcyclist Forum.

This year’s event will cover several topics relevant to motorcycling safety including the results of the RIDERSCAN project and its implications for the European Commission’s road safety policy orientations for 2011-2020, research on motorcycling safety, infrastructure development and effective communication strategies with motorcyclist groups.

Speakers and moderators will include Anna Zee (FEMA President), Szabolcs Schmidt and Casto Lopez-Benitez (European Commission, DG MOVE), Pierre van Eslande (IFSTTAR, OECD), Aline Delhaye (FEMA, RIDERSCAN coordinator) and Brian Harnett (Irish Road Safety Authority), among others.

The 2015 European Motorcyclist Forum will run over two days of seminars, presentations and debate. A full day workshop will be organised at the CEN-CENELEC premises on 2 February. A half-day debate session in the European Parliament will take place on 3 February.

The event in the Parliament will be kindly hosted by Ms Inés Ayalá-Sender, Mr Wim van de Camp MEP and Mr Dominique Riquet, MEPs.

The full programme of the 2015 European Motorcyclist Forum and the registration form are available here. 

A total of  964,000 powered two wheelers (PTWs) were registered during the first nine months of 2014 in the EU. This represents an increase of 0.41% compared with the 960,060 units registered between January and September 2013. Registrations in the motorcycle segment grew by 6.3%, whilst moped registrations fell by 11.4%.

The full statistical release in pdf format can be downloaded here.

The European Commission published today in the Official Journal of the EU the implementing regulation on administrative requirements for the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles (Commission implementing regulation 901/2014). 

The European Commission published today in the Official Journal of the EU the implementing regulation on administrative requirements for the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles (Commission implementing regulation 901/2014).

The text is the last piece of legislation that implements the Type-approval regulation (Regulation EU 168/2013).

The Commission implementing regulation 901/2014 outlines administrative requirements for the approval of new L-category vehicles. Its publication follows a positive vote by the members of the Technical committee on motor vehicles (TCMV) which took place on 1 July. the new implementing regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal and will apply from 1 January 2016.

About the type-approval package

Regulation EU 168/2013 and its implementing and delegated acts provide for new environmental and emissions requirements, advanced braking systems, anti-tampering measures and access to repair and maintenance information, among others.

The emissions requirements will be introduced in two steps: Euro 4 and Euro 5. Euro 4 will apply to L3e (motorcycles), L4e (motorcycles with sidecars), L5e (tricycles), L7e (heavy quadrcycles) as for 1 January 2016; and to L1e, L2e and L6e as of 1 January 2017. Existing vehicles will be alowed an extra year to comply with these new standards.

Under Regulation 168/2013 new type-approved vehicles will be required to comply with Euro 5 standards as of 2020. This obligation, however, will be subject to a "comprehensive environmental study" by the European Commission, the conclusions of which are expected to be published by 2016.