H1 motorcycle registrations -0.5% in 'Big Five' markets
Released in late August, ACEM - Europe's Brussels based international motorcycle industry trade association - shows registrations of motorcycles and mopeds in Europe's largest markets remaining "stable" for the first half of 2022.
"Registrations of new motorcycles in five of the largest European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK) showed a slight decrease of -0.5% (532,980 units) during the first six months of 2022, compared to the same period of 2021 (532,460 units)". The 'Big Five' markets account for just over 80% of European registrations.
Some of the largest European motorcycle markets registered increases, including Germany (117,800 motorcycles registered, +1.7%) and Spain (91,870 units, +10.7%). Registrations decreased in France (108,000 units, -6.4%), Italy (161,500 units, -2.8%) and the UK (53,650 motorcycles registered, -2.3%) compared to the first half of 2021.
The moped segment performed slightly better during the first six months of 2022. Moped registrations reached a total of about 134,500 units in the six largest European moped markets (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain). This represents an increase of +1.0 % in comparison to the first six months of 2021.
Commenting on the current situation of the sector, Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said: "In recent months, two-wheeler sales have been affected by logistic disruptions at international level. This led to a backlog in vehicle deliveries in several European markets. Sales were also affected by rising energy costs and inflation, higher interest rates and broad economic uncertainty.
"Registrations for mopeds and motorcycles in Europe remained stable in comparison to the first half of 2021. Due to their relatively low purchasing and running costs, two-wheelers have fared much better than other private means of transport.
"We will know whether 2022 was a good year for our sector when the aggregated figures for the first nine months of the year become available." That data may not be available from ACEM until after EICMA.
