Continued growth in German PTW sales
The good
news in new motorcycle registration terms in Europe continues with the latest
data from the IVM, the motorcycle industry trade association in Germany,
showing that total PTW registrations in March were up by 16.7 percent (25,302
units) over March 2013, and that for the three months of the year to date,
registrations are up by 25.4 percent at 38,375 units.
This marks
the strongest first quarter performance in Germany since 2008, and puts March
back to pre-recessionary levels.
In
motorcycle registration terms, March saw a 14.6 percent growth (19,141 units)
with the year to date showing a 24.8 percent increase at 28,617 units.
With the
exception of 2012 (19,996 units), that is the strongest March motorcycle sales
performance in Germany, and the strongest first quarter performance since the
downturn began.
March is
traditionally the strongest month for new PTW and motorcycle registrations in
Germany, so if the trend continues for April (traditionally the second
strongest month), then the German market will be well on the way to posting
genuine growth in 2014, and a 36 month cycle since January 2012 of improvement
when only 3 (weather-hit) months have shown anything greater than a 1 percent
decline in motorcycle registrations.
