According to the latest data published by ACEM, the Brussels based international motorcycle industry trade association, new motorcycle registrations (vehicles with two or three wheels and an engine capacity of more than 50cc) in all of Europe’s EU markets were up by +13.3 percent in 2016 at 1,009,529 units (891,219 in 2015).
The largest market for motorcycles in Europe was Italy, with 195,290 units registered (+13.5% on a year-on-year basis); followed by Germany +15.1 percent (174,624 units); France + 6.6 percent (163,335 units); Spain + 17 percent (155,003 units) and the UK + 13.4 percent (119,889 units).
PTWs +9.1 percent
Some caution is required when comparing these figures with prior years because the major motorcycle manufacturers and many larger dealers artificially inflated the end of year activity (November and December 2016) with pre-registrations of unsold Euro 3 compliant 2016 inventory before the December 31st deadline - Euro 4 compliance became mandatory for all new registrations effective January 1st 2017.
In total Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) terms, registrations were +9.1 percent at 1,307,206 units, with the moped market still soft at -3.5 percent for 2016 (327,786 units).
France remains the largest European market for overall PTW registrations and was +4.2 percent in 2016 (253,067 units), followed by Italy +11.8 percent (219,865 units); Germany +15.1 percent (174,264 units); Spain +15.9 percent (172,176 units) and the UK +11.7 percent (128,637 units).
Moped registrations continue to decline in most European markets, with the best growth seen in Spain +7.6 percent (17,173 units) and the Netherlands +2.9 percent (67,825 units), with France, Europe’s largest moped market, stable at +0.1 percent (89,732 units) and Italy (24,575 units) with -0.2%.
Motorcycles, mopeds and quadricycles registered in Europe in 2016 with a cylinder capacity of less than 125 cc accounted for 49 percent of the 1,307,206 units total PTW market (672,551 units); vehicles with a cylinder capacity between 126cc and 500cc accounted for 19% of the total (268,103 units); vehicles with engines between 500cc and 1000cc were 20.6 percent of the market (283,868 units); vehicles with engines of 1000cc or more totalled 150,444 units, 10.9% of the total; the 500cc+ market was 434,312 units; the 125cc+ market was 702,415 units in 2016.
Italy, Europe’s largest motorcycle market, +13.3 percent
Registrations of electric mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles in the EU reached 22,402 units. Of these, 11,314 units were mopeds (50.5% of the total); 7,148 were quadricycles (31.9% of the total); and 3,513 were electric motorcycles (15.7% of the total).
The largest markets for electrically-propelled mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles were France (7,396 units), the Netherlands (5,203 units), Italy (2,385 units), Spain (1,604 units) and Germany (1,501 units).
Of all mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles registered in the EU, 1.6% were electric vehicles. Internal combustion vehicles and vehicles equipped with hybrid propulsion represented 98.4% of the total registrations.
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| CEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot: “We need a European trade policy that not only secures strategic free trade agreements with key partners, but also one that prevents protectionist policies abroad”. |
156,000 jobs in the EU
“Strong demand for PTWs of all kinds across Europe is a testament to their inherent advantages. Mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles have reduced purchasing and running costs, are easier to park than cars, and reduce travelling times and congestion in cities.
“Notwithstanding this, our sector still faces a delicate situation. Although more than 1.3 million vehicles were registered in Europe in 2016, that figure is about half the 2.43 million units registered in 2007 before the economic crisis hit.
“According to our latest estimates, about 156,000 jobs are generated directly or indirectly by our sector in the EU. Activities such as manufacturing of vehicles, parts and components, as well as the repair and maintenance of vehicles and manufacturing of protective equipment, to name just a few examples, create jobs all over Europe - particularly in countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and the UK.
“Exports of motorcycles, parts and accessories to foreign countries are essential to sustaining jobs in the motorcycle sector in Europe. In addition to a stronger domestic European market, we need a European trade policy that not only secures strategic free trade agreements with key partners, but also one that prevents protectionist policies abroad”.
