Germany 2024 - motorcycle registrations up by approx. +3.00%
The latest data from the German motorcycle industry association (IVM) shows motorcycle registrations even more drastically impacted by Euro 5+ pre-registration 'channel stuffing' than was the case seen in Italy with as many as 23,000 to 25,000 units rushed through in the final quarter of 2024 to beat the January 1,2025 cut-off.
Therefore the IVM's formal data has to be viewed with caution and the best estimates that we here at IDN can arrive at, based on our archives and experience, is that motorcycle registrations in Germany in 2024 were indeed up, but by something in the region of 3,000 to 4,000 units for the year, giving a 'real' 2024 market growth of around 3.00% at best (129,000 units). Certainly not the +21.47% (152,704 units) that the trade association and government registrations department (KBA) have had no choice in reporting.
Corresponding 'real' estimates in total PTW terms for the German market in 2024 would be around 223,000 units for approximate annual market growth of +2.5%.
The top selling model in Germany in 2024 was the BMW R 1300 GS with (a theoretical) 7,174 units sold for a 4.7% market share. This was followed by the Kawasaki Z900 (theoretically 4,126/2.70%), Honda CB 750 Hornet (2,935/1.92%), BMW R 1250 GS (2,631/1.72%) and Honda XL 750 Transalp overtaking the Yamaha MT-07 (2,581/1.69% and 2,512/1.65% respectively)
The top 10 is rounded out by the KTM 690 SMC in 7th spot (2,285/1.50%), Yamaha Tenere 700 (2,255/1.48%), BMW F 900 R (2,205/1.44%) and Kawasaki Z 650 (2,173/1.42%) in tenth. Then come the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, KTM 790 Duke, KTM 1290 Super Duke R, Honda CBR 650 R and the Yamaha MT-09.
The top-selling Suzuki YTD was the GSX-8S in 20th spot ( 1,355 units); the GASGAS SM 700 (1,398) was in 19th spot; the Scrambler 400 X was Triumph's best seller in 37th spot (1,025 units); the Multistrada V4 (911 units) was the best-selling Ducati in 45th spot with Harley-Davidson having dropped out of the top 50 best-selling models list entirely.
With 11 models in the top 50, it is no surprise that BMW remains the dominant market share leader in its home market, with 28,581 units sold (up on the 23,978 sold in 2023 though with a marginally reduced market share of 18.72%).
This was followed by Honda with (14.03% share/21,431 units sold); KTM (15,559 units sold for a 10.19% share); Kawasaki (10.12%/15,460 units - up on 2023); and Yamaha (8.05%/12,296). The top 10 market shares were rounded out by Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Ducati, Suzuki and Husqvarna.
Overall, electric PTW sales were fractionally up over 2023 (1,733 units over 1,614 in 2023) with Kawasaki surprisingly in top spot with 561 units sold for 32.37% market share. This was followed by Zero Motorcycles (273 units/15.75% market share), Vmoto (135 units/7.79%), Tinbot (62 units/3.58%) and KTM (60 units/3.46% share); LiveWire has fallen out of the top 5 best-selling electric motorcycle brand listing.
For the record - In motorcycle terms, the German market was up in 2023 at +16.41% (125,709 units). In total PTW terms the German market was +6.98% at 215,501 units. The used market in Germany in 2023 saw 442,868 vehicles change hands in 2023. The top selling motorcycle in Germany in 2023 was the BMW R 1250 GS with 7,529 units sold for a 5.99% market share (the Kawasaki Z900 was second, Honda CB 750 Hornet third). BMW retained its top spot as German motorcycle market share leader with 23,978 units sold for 19.07% market share, which marked some 4.4% growth on its unit sales in 2022. Honda took second spot with Kawasaki third.
