German registrations up over 13%

German motorcycle registrations up over 13% for first four months of 2014

 
For the first time since September last year, and only the eighth time since January 2012, motorcycle registrations in Germany were down in April.

At -3.76 percent (15,412 units) the variance over April 2013 (which was itself over 26 percent up on April 2012) industry analysts are saying that this is likely to be as a result of Easter timing, and that the March market in Germany included some boost as a result of changed Easter timing.

For the year to date, German motorcycle registrations are running at 13.07 percent up, on volume of 44,029 units (compared to 38,940 units for the first four months of 2013).
The picture in Germany is broadly similar for lower cc models, with total PTW registrations falling by -3.72 percent (21,175 units), but the total for the first four months of the year (59.550 units) shows the total PTW market in Germany running at 13.22 percent up.
As previously report in MotoWEEK and International Dealer News, most of Europe’s major markets have now returned to growth in both motorcycle and total PTW terms, but while growth remains low and inflation higher than ECB targets in the Euro zone, it will still take some time for the macro economic recovery to translate into stability.