THE strong recovery seen in the Spanish motorcycle market so far this year continued in November, with the latest data from ANESDOR, the motorcycle industry trade association in Spain, showing new motorcycle registrations up by +25.4 percent (7,813 units) compared to November 2013.
For
the year to date, the Spanish market is +19.3 percent compared to the
first eleven months of 2013, at 104,331 units (compared to 87,150 for
the year-ago period). In moped (small cc) terms, the Spanish market remains weak, with sales down 11.7 percent in November on sales of just 978 units; -4.3 percent for the year to date (13,607 units).
According to Jose Maria Riano, Secretary General of ANESDOR, the November figure is one that "exceeds our best estimates" and "a decisive factor was the mild weather, unusual for this time of year.
"The climate does not explain everything of course. The improving economic situation is critical, as are the advantages of two wheels in terms of mobility.
"However, as mentioned previously, it is not all good news following the announcement of the next stage in the fleet renewal plans (PIMA 7 and PIVE 4) with two-wheelers still excluded despite the average age of the motorcycle fleet in Spain exceeding 14 years.
"For us, this makes no sense on practical or economic grounds. Motorcycles reduce travel time and parking overhead, consume less resources and produce fewer emissions, therefore including two-wheelers in the incentives and initiatives designed to encourage the replacement of older bikes would have a positive environmental, lifestyle and state revenue impact".
