The latest data from the IVM, the motorcycle industry trade association in Germany, shows motorcycle registrations up by +4.38% (113,039 units) for the full year. 2018 saw 108,296 motorcycles registered, 100,877 in 2017, and an artificially inflated 117,587 in 2016 due to the rush to register pre-Euro 4 models. Before that, most years since 2008 saw fewer than 100,000 motorcycle registrations.
The year came to a disappointing end, with December showing a fall of -3.20% from the previous year, albeit on low volumes (1,936 units), having been up +5.18% in November (2,699 units).
In PTW terms, the year was up +6.53% with 165,311 units registered. For the year January to October, the German motorcycle market was +4.51% at 108,404 - the best comparable performance since before 2008. December saw 2,909 units registered (-7.15%) and November was also slightly down at 4,378 units (-1.49%).
The top selling model for 2019 was clearly the BMW R 1250 GS (9,417 units), way ahead of the Yamaha MT-07 (3,708) in second place and the Kawasaki Z900 in third (3,141), followed by the Z650 in fourth (2,720) and the Honda Africa Twin fifth with 2,404 units sold in 2019.
With six models among the top 30 best-selling motorcycles, it is no surprise that BMW has stretched its German market dominance still further, having sold 24,868 units in total in 2019 for a commanding 21.25% market share (up +8.04% on 2018).
Honda was second with 13,211 units sold for an 11.69% market share; KTM third with 13,033 units (11.53% share); Kawasaki fourth with 12,696 (11.23% share); Yamaha fifth with 11,658 units sold (10.31% share) and Harley-Davidson sixth with 10,189 units sold YTD (9.01% share). They are followed by Suzuki (5,394), Ducati (5,143), Triumph (4,924) and Husqvarna (2,891).
Royal Enfield is up to 11th best-selling brand in Germany with 1,592 units sold YTD for a modest but fast growing 1.40% market share and +74.56% growth. Indian Motorcycle is also on the warpath with 1,234 units sold in 2019 for a 1.09% share and +14.26% growth.
