[EDITORIAL]
Dear Reader,
Since our last newsletter we have had a very hectic period. We have been gathering data on the economic crisis, which allowed us to give a precise outline of its effects on our sector during a public hearing by the European Economic and Social Committee. We answered a call for contributions in view of the adoption of the 4th Road Safety Action Programme. And we were, and still are, busy discussing with the European Commission about the future regulation on type-approval for PTWs.
We are proud to announce the launch of CI-ACEM, a market analysis tool fully operated by the ACEM Secretariat (with the support of some of the major European market players). The set up of the project took more than a year and we are now very pleased by the first results. CI-ACEM gathers, monitors, and analyses motorcycle registrations and moped sales in 17 European countries, including Turkey. It will establish itself as an authoritative source of statistics regarding the market trends of PTWs in Europe.
ACEM conducted a thorough survey of the European PTW sector. While we are now capable of drawing a quite unsettling picture of the effects of the crisis we can also describe the causes and provide some solutions. The public hearing of the European Economic and Social Committee in Milan last November 12 offered us the opportunity to publicly present these figures, and propose measures for recovery.
In one year (September 2008-September 2009) the European PTW market fell by 27%. The long positive trend experienced by the PTW market that lasted since 2002 ended abruptly in the last quarter of 2008. A year into the crisis, now, and almost three quarter of a million less PTWs were sold, bringing the market back 16 years!
In this context, the Italian Government deserves a praise. An open attitude towards the requests of the PTW industry, swift action and the allocation of resources contributed to counteract the negative effects of the crisis in the first European market. Elsewhere the plunge has been disastrous, as the case of Spain shows (-49%), while thanks ot the stimulus package in Italy there was only a slight decline (-%4) if not a growth as in the case of the scooter segment (+8%). These figures show that with adequate measures recovery is possible.
I'd like to conclude by announcing the new date for the 6th ACEM Conference. It will be held on January 28, 2010 and it will focus on the PTW industry as an important - and often understimated - sector of the European economy. Please, note down this important date and book your flight to Brussels.
Enjoy your reading!
Jacques Compagne
Acem Secretary General
[NEWS]
Hearing on Industrial change and prospects for the motorcycle industry in Europe
The Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a hearing in Milan on 12 November 2009
In the current challenging economic context, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is preparing an own-initiative opinion, addressed in particular to the European institutions, on Industrial change and prospects for the motorcycle industry in Europe. The hearing was designed to collect input from the industry, stakeholders, policymakers and civil society representatives.
[read more]
[UPDATE]
ACEM reports a -27% decline in one year (Sep08-Sep09)
Fragmentation of the sector sharpens the effects of the economic crisis
Registrations for the European PTWs market have been dropping sharply since the last quarter of 2008 (-34%). Last year the overall ACEM's new market analysis tool and a survey conducted with Gruppo Class, an Italian consultancy, allows for a precise description of the impact of the crisis on the PTW sector.
[read more]
[NEWS]
Action Plan on Urban Mobility
The Commission indicates PTWs as a way to optimise urban mobility
Responsibility for urban mobility policies lies primarily with local, regional and national authorities. Nevertheless, decisions adopted at local level are not taken in isolation but within the framework provided by national, regional and EU policy and legislation. Therefore the Commission believes that much is to be gained from working together in order to support action at local, regional and national levels and to provide for a partnership approach while fully respecting the different competences and responsibilities of all actors involved.
[read more]
[UPDATE]
Failure to fight the crisis in the PTW sector in Spain
A halved PTW market shows the importance of expert opinion in policy making
Jose Maria Riaño, Secretary General of ANESDOR, the Spanish PTW Industry Association affiliated to ACEM, reported about the situation his country is facing in the context of the economic crisis. During his speech at the Public Hearing of the European Economic ands Social Committee last 12 November in Milan, Mr Riaño highlighted the importance of a clear regulatory framework supporting the PTW industry. In his account Mr Riaño related that important changes in the Spanish legislation have occurred during last two years several deeply influencing the PTW market.
[read more]
[NEWS]
WHO adopts declaration on Road Safety at
First U.N. Conference on Road Safety
Transport Ministers from over 70 countries call for action plans and strategies
in road safety including ambitious and measurable targets
Transport Ministers, and NGO representatives from over 40 countries met at the 1st U.N. Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow, with the objective of joining forces in tackling the problems of road safety globally. The WHO predicts that road traffic injuries will rise to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030.
[read more]
[NEWS]
Electric PTW presented in the context of eSUM Project
BMW Motorrad presents concept vehicle for urban mobility
This is what a safer, environment-friendly and highly practical single track vehicle for city traffic could look like in the future. BMW Motorrad developed the C1-E study as a contribution to the European safety project eSUM. This study unit is based on the concept of the BMW C1. It is characterized by a very high level of active and passive safety and is driven by an electric motor.
[read more]
[NEWS]
Husqvarna inaugurated new Motorcycles Headquarters
The new Development and Operations Centre of the motorcycle manufacturer, recently acquired by the BMW Group, opened its doors in September
The inaugural ceremony of the new Husqvarna Motorcycles Headquarters was held on the 21st September at
Cassinetta di Biandronno (Italy). The new facility expands the site of the motorcycle manufacturer. Hendrik Von Kuenheim, President of BMW Motorrad, and Rainer Thoma,
President and Managing Director of Husqvarna Motorcycles, attended the ceremony with the employees, the media and civil society representatives. Construction works began on
2nd July 2008 lasting less than 15 months.
[read more]
[NEWS]
Honda opens Safety Institute in Europe
A 4 million Euro investment by Honda Montesa for the training of riders of all ages
Honda Montesa, the Spanish subsidiary of Honda, opened a unique training facility in Barcelona, Spain. The Honda Safety Institute is a modern facility with classrooms, a multi purpose asphalted track, a section with different coefficients of friction for braking practice, an off-road track and an area for trial motorcycles. Montesa Honda estimates that up to 15.000 attendants will follow its training courses each a year.
[read more]
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