The latest data released by ACEM, the Brussels based international motorcycle industry trade association, shows combined registrations of motorcycles and mopeds in the EU (all PTWs – Powered Two-Wheelers) reaching 254,487 units during the first quarter of 2017, representing a decrease of -3.3% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Commenting on the latest figures, Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM, said: “The slowdown in the motorcycle and moped markets is the result of the final transition to the new Euro 4 standard. A large number of Euro 3 vehicles were registered in late 2016, which explains why fewer mopeds and motorcycles are being registered in the beginning of 2017”.
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| ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot: “The slowdown in the motorcycle and moped markets is the result of the final transition to the new Euro 4 standard” |
“We expect the market to regain positive momentum over the coming months, particularly thanks to the launch of the new models and the beginning of the motorcycle riding season. As a matter of fact, some of the largest European markets have already surpassed Q1 2016 registration levels”.
In motorcycle terms, registrations in the EU reached 193,097 units during Q1 2017 (-5.9% compared to Q1 2016). The Italian motorcycle market is currently the largest in Europe with 45,433 units registered in Q1 2017 (+1.71% compared to the same quarter of the previous year). Motorcycle registrations remained stable in France (33,884 units, +0.45%) and decreased in Germany (35,401 units, -7.12%), Spain (24,898 vehicles, -12.7%) and the UK (21,874 units, -14.28%).
Registrations of mopeds in the EU increased by +5.9% (61,390 units), led by strong growth in the two largest European markets, namely France (17,280 units, +9.5%) and the Netherlands (13,863 units, +6.47%). Moped figures remained stable in Germany (7,214 units, -0.32%) and decreased in Italy (4,797 units, -4.23%).
Total registrations of electric mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles reached 5,447 units during Q1 2017, an increase of +31.5% compared to Q1 2016.
A total of 3,859 electric mopeds and 787 electric motorcycles were registered in Europe (+62% and +35.5% respectively), whilst figures for electric quadricycles went down from 1,178 to 801 (-32%) over the same period.
Commenting on the growth in electric vehicle sales, Antonio Perlot said that “the launch of new electric models to the market confirms that our sector continues to make a valuable contribution to the sustainability of Europe’s transport systems.
“The growth of registrations of electric vehicles in the EU reflects both the increasing interest from public authorities in electromobility, and the proliferation of shared vehicle schemes across Europe”.
“At the same time, our sector still needs a consistent approach to incentives – fiscal and otherwise – for electric vehicles, as well as a greater investment in the charging network. Although some European governments have launched subsidies to incentivise sales of electric vehicles, mopeds and motorcycles are not always eligible for these schemes”.
“This situation, which creates an unequal playing field between our sector and other means of transport, should be addressed by European and national authorities”.
Research by IDN estimates that some 40,000 motorcycles may have been unsold Euro 3 machines that were pre-registered before the December 31st cut-off; some 24,000 of which were sold from showroom floors in the first quarter of 2017, often on heavily incentivised package deals – enough for EU-wide Q1 new zero-mileage motorcycle sales to have been modestly up on Q1 of 2016.
In 2016 motorcycle registrations (vehicles with two or three wheels and an engine capacity of more than 50cc) for all EU markets for the full year were +13.3 percent at 1,009,529 units (891,219 in 2015). The largest market for motorcycles in Europe in 2016 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).
In total Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) terms, 2016 full-year registrations were +9.1 percent at 1,307,206 units, with the moped market still soft at -3.5 percent (327,786 units).
