Honda has said that it is targeting 100% EV sales in North America by 2040 (battery-electric and fuel cell), having achieved 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035. The company is aiming for carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050 and zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda automobiles and motorcycles globally by 2050.
Jörg Bucher, the newly elected President of the Motosuisse, the motorcycle industry trade association in Switzerland, has announced that the Swiss Moto trade fair is to be rebranded and moved from its long-time home in Zurich to new facilities at the Swiss Capital, Bern. The first edition of the new iteration of the show will take place at Bernexpo in February or March 2022. Motosuisse says that "in the future, the festival character is to be strengthened, making the event relevant for a younger target audience."
German BMW parts specialist Wunderlich has been voted Best Brand in the Accessories and Conversions category by Motorrad - for the second year in a row.
In addition to hosting INTERMOT, Koelnmesse is to stage a new annual event - polisMOBILITY (City Mobility) - in May 2022 (18-21) geared towards urban mobility of the future. The focus will be on solutions for the cities of the future and a new format will "unite expo, conference and experience - a hybrid event at the fairgrounds, in the city and on the web".
Canadian powersports vehicle manufacturer BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) has announced that it intends to offer electric models in all product lines by the end of 2026. To achieve this, it will invest $300m in product development. The company's subsidiary Rotax (Gunskirchen, Austria) is developing a modular electric power pack technology for use in all product lines.
Energica has signed a new technological partnership with Reinova - a fellow Italian 'Motor Valley' business that is an "innovative Centre for Excellence" specialised in the development and validation of components for sustainable mobility electric and hybrid powertrains". The three-year agreement will focus on an "industrial partnership that aims at developing technological tests for the development and validation of e-mobility components - which also include modules and batteries".
In the first quarter 2021, total motorcycle market sales in China were 3.7m units, up 28.2% compared with 2020 (when February sales dropped due to COVID-19) and 12.9% compared to 2019. Electric vehicles represent more than 50% of the total market, which are forecast to reach a new all-time record for the end of 2021.
A reimagined Motor Bike Expo (MBE) finally looks set to be held at Verona in northern Italy on June 18-20. The event will leverage its switch from its usual January date to exploit the better riding weather with secure in-show parking and outdoor activities, including demo rides.
Swiss born Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier (19) died in hospital on Sunday May 30 following a serious incident in the Moto3 Qualifying 2 session at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. He was involved in a multi-rider incident between Turns 9 and 10, with the session Red Flagged thereafter. FIM Medical Intervention Vehicles arrived at the site immediately and the Swiss rider was attended to on track before being transferred by medical helicopter, in a stable state, to a hospital in Florence, but he sadly succumbed to his injuries.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com
