[MARKET FIGURES]
Europe PTW makers hope for better Q2 after weak Q1
The dramatic losses of 2009 are replaced by a slight trickle in the first quarter of 2010
The devastating effects of the economic crisis on PTW registrations which started in the autumn of 2008 and caused the market to shrink by -25%, was followed by a particularly harsh European winter which is making recovery look still far.
The PTW market is particularly dependant on seasonality and weather conditions. An extremely long winter did not encourage the early reawakening of the PTW market in Europe this first quarter. However, thanks to a dynamic month of March, the damages have been limited bringing the market back to 2009 levels. The first quarter of 2009 ends with a decrease of -0.6% compared to Q1 2009.
January and February of 2010 were negative compared to the same months in 2009, which were visibly showing the impact of the crisis.
Mopeds continue to suffer more than Motorcycles with -1.9% and +0.1% respectively.
A comparison of European countries shows remarkable contrasts. The Southern markets have performed relatively well, with Italy (a country who showed a strong resilience to the crisis thanks to market incentives – 2009 was equal to 2008) with a + 6.7 % and almost 100,000 PTWs sold.
Spain, marked by an appalling -40% in 2009, now shows a solid 25% increase for Motorcycles.
The difficult economic situation in Greece is probably at causing it to lag behind -5.5%.
Austria (+14%), Switzerland (+7.5%) and the Netherlands (+1%) are among the good performing group, while on the opposite side Norway (-58%) Denmark (-35.2%), UK (-20.9%) and Germany (-11.5%) still remind us that the crisis is far from over for the European PTW sector.
[INDEX]
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR RIDERS
IVM'S "LICENSE CHALLENGE 2010"
HONDA'S TO BEGIN SALES OF ELECTIRC SCOOTER
EESC'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE PTW INDUSTRY IN EUROPE