European motorcycle registrations up by +8.3 percent for first six months of 2015The latest data released by ACEM, the Brussels based motorcycle industry trade association, show motorcycle registrations up by +8.3 percent in the first six months of 2015 in 26 of the 28 member states of the European Union.
At 505,229 units (compared to 466,496 units in the first six months of 2014) this is the best first half-year market performance in Europe for many years and after a couple of years in which the sales decline of the recession slowed and in which registrations stabilized and then posted modest growth in 2014, this is the first and most important piece of major good news for the motorcycle industry in Europe since 2007.
In total PTW (Powered Two Wheeler) registration terms the first six months of the year saw 3.4 percent growth at 666,119 units from 644,527 in the first six months of last year. On small volumes Europe's moped market is still in decline though, down by -9.6 percent at 160,890 units (from 178,031 in 2014).
total PTWs +3.4 percent
France remains Europe's largest market in total PTW terms, although at 127,425 units for the first six months (compared to 131,210 units for the same period last year) the French market remains the only one of Europe's "majors" where sales are still in decline, at -2.9 percent; that said, in motorcycle terms, French market decline has slowed and at only -0.3 percent for the first six months (87,672 units, down from 87,424 in 2014) suggesting that this year will see the French market stabilize, following the same pattern that has informed recovery elsewhere in Europe.
In total PTW terms the German market is second largest behind France at 114,770 units (+1.8 percent for the first six months) with Italy third largest at 113,246 units (+2.3 percent).
However in motorcycle registration terms the Italian market is Europe's largest at 100,672 units (up by a very healthy +5.1 percent for the half year), with the German market second at 96,709 units (+5 percent) and France third.
Spain is Europe's fourth largest in new motorcycle registration terms for the first half of 2015 according to ACEM's pan-European data t 64,616 units (+20.9 percent for the year-to-date), with the United Kingdom fifth (56,950 units, +15.3 percent); Greece sixth, Austria seventh, Poland eighth, Belgium 9th and Portugal 10th. If it was an EU member Switzerland would actually be just behind the UK market (see report elsewhere in this edition of International Dealer News as it is in fact Europe's sixth largest motorcycle market overall.
France is Europe's largest moped market; followed by Germany then Italy. At the time of going tom press ACEMs data had yet to include the new tregistration data from Malta and Slovakia.
