[EDITORIAL]
Dear Reader,
the Motorcycle Industry in Europe is facing unprecedented challenges this fall. Next to a dire market situation, where sales do not seem to be able to take off since the beginning of the economic crisis, the sector is bracing itself for the new rules in the type-approval procedure tabled by the European Commission. These will not only determine the requirements of new bikes in terms of safety and emissions; they will force manufacturers to funnel resources in new technologies and tools, and administrative fulfilments in order to comply with the new rules.
ABS, is one of the controversial aspects that dominated years of discussions leading to the proposal of the European Commission. There are high hopes in terms of safety, and we concur with this point of view. However, in the case of small capacity engines, such a measure is, in the view of ACEM, not proportionate, considering that a wide array of other advanced braking systems exists and that the industry has successfully been designing them specifically for two wheels.
Simplification, despite the Commission intentions, is not, in our view the outcome of this Regulation, at least as long as it concerns manufacturers. The numerous provisions and staggered deadlines starting from the EURO steps to the implementation dates of ABS to other measures such as On Board Diagnostics, all lead to a complex clouding of requirements to be met over a short time frame. At a cost.
Furthermore, there are still wide areas of sheer uncertainty. A vital aspect of the homologation process such as the announced revised WMTC does not exist yet. The content of the delegated acts is not known. Many issues are still open and will not be cleared before 2012, just a few months before the application foreseen for 1.1.2013. The Motorcycle Industry has repeatedly engaged itself with voluntary commitments and proposals to increase the safety of its products and reduce emissions, but to do this a clear roadmap and an appropriate lead-time need to be laid out by policy makers.
On the positive side we welcome the Commission's engagement to create the grounds for a level playing field. Clear terms of reference for Member States in regards to market surveillance will safeguard the EU market from undue and unfair practices with consumers reaping the benefits in terms of product quality and safety.
The proposed regulation is not perfect yet but perfectible. ACEM looks forward to working with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council on this proposal and will release more detailed comments in the coming days.
Enjoy your reading!
Jacques Compagne
Acem Secretary General
[MARKET UPDATE]
The Crisis of the PTW Market in Europe: -33%
After disappointing results in spring, sales continued to fall during the summer. The EU market for motorcycles and mopeds has continued to fall steadily since the beginning of the crisis
The crisis is not over yet for the European motorcycle sector. The persistence of a a double-digit contraction is highlighted by comparing similar timeframes in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Over these three years during the January-September periods the PTW market has shrunk by more than one third in (1.730.821 units vs. 1.281.296). [read more]
[NEWS]
European Road Safety Day
A specific focus is dedicated to motorcyclists who have responded less promptly under the previous plan
The European Commission has adopted challenging plans to reduce the number of road deaths on Europe's roads by half in the next 10 years. Initiatives proposed in a set of "Policy Orientations for 2011-2020" range from setting higher standards for vehicle safety, to improving the training of road users, and increasing the enforcement of road rules. The Commission will work closely with Member States to implement this programme.
[read more]
[NEWS]
Yamaha increases efforts to inspire European commuters to make the switch to electric PTWs
The manufacturer intends to cater to users living in urban areas looking for alternative modes of transport and beat congestion
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced the release of the new electric moped, a model designed and engineered with the product concept of a “Smart Minimal Commuter”. The EC-03 will be available throughout Europe from the beginning of 2011.
[read more]
[REPORT]
Cologne's Intermot show reports positive results
More than 210,000 enthusiastic motorcycle fans attended the Intermot motorcycle show of Cologne. Four percent more exhibitors and five percent more bikers compared to the previous edition
The recently concluded INTERMOT show in Cologne reported a growth. During the five days of the trade fair, From 6th to 10th October, the organizers Koelnmesse and the German Motorcycle Industry Association (IVM) registered more than 210,000 motorcycle and scooter fans in the biker city of Cologne.
[read more]
[REPORT]
Febiac launches a campaign to promote motorcycling
Trucks to display large posters inviting car users to think about mototcycles as an alternative mode of transport
Febiac, the Belgian Association reuniting manufacturers and importers of automobiles and powered two wheelers, launched a camapaign which shows the advantages of motorcycling in terms of door to door mobility and alternative to cars.
[read more]
[REPORT]
EPA halts imports of Chinese ATVs in the USA
Chinese ATV manufacturers lost permission to import after the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States found false or incomplete data certificates of compliance
Chinese off-road cycle and all-terrain vehicle manufacturers hit a big pothole in July as the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew permission to import and sell up to 200,000 such vehicles in the USA because they may pollute more than had been claimed.
[read more]
[NEWS]
IMMA's contribution to the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-20”
The International Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA) announced the publication of its HHRT—Motorcycle Safety: IMMA’s contribution to the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-20 report at a meeting of the United Nations Working Party on Road Traffic Safety (WP.1) convened last month in Geneva.
[read more]
[NEWS]
8th International Motorcycle Conference 2010
Safety, evironment, future were some of the topics covered by the conference
On October 4 and 5, the 8th International Motorcycle Conference of the Institut für Zweiradsicherheit (Institute for Motorcycle Safety - ifz) took place under the headline ‘Safety – Environment – Future’ and represents a unique exchange of experiences covering all aspects related to powered two wheelers.
[read more]
[NEWS]
SAFERIDER presented during the ICT 2010 conference held in Brussels on 27-29 September
The EU funded project analyses Advanced Telematics for Enhancing the Safety and Comfort of Motorcycle Riders
The SAFERIDER project presented its developments during the ICT 2010 Event that was held in Brussels on September 27-29. The goal of ICT 2010 is to show how new technologies meet the demands of today's society and economy as well as those that could arise in the future. In this context the European Commission presented its research priorities for the €2.8 billion of ICT research funding to be provided in 2011-2012.
[read more]
[NEWS]
Motorcycles will escort the Pope during official motorcades
For the first time the Vatican police will adopt motorcycles
for security purposes .
Two motorcycles for the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City have been presented to Pope Bendict XVI to be used as part of the Pope's official security motorcade.
[read more]
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