ACEM news
European registrations of motorcyles and mopeds up by 9.1% compared to 2015
20 Feb 2017

According to the latest data published today by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) registrations of motorcycles and mopeds in the EU have increased by 9.1% in 2016 compared to the the previous year. Total registrations in 2016 reached 1,307,200 units, with substantial increases in all of the largest European markets.

France remains the largest European market for light vehicles (253,067 units, +4.2% in 2016), followed by Italy (219,865 units, +11.8%), Germany (174,264 units, +15.1%), Spain (172,176 units, +15.9%) and the UK (128,637 units, +11.7%).

Strong growth in the motorcycle segment across Europe

In 2016 European registrations of motorcycles (i.e. vehicles with two- or three wheels and an engine capacity of more than 50cc) grew by 13.3% compared to 2015. The largest market for motorcycles in Europe was Italy, with 195,290 units registered (+13.5% on a year-on-year basis).

Other largest European motorcycle markets also showed positive trends: 174,624 vehicles were registered in Germany (+15.1%); 163,335 in France (+6.6%), 155,003 in Spain (+17%) and 119,889 in the UK (+13.4%).

Moped registrations in Europe

Registrations of mopeds (i.e. vehicles with two or three wheels and an engine capacity of 50cc or less) increased in some of the major European markets such as Spain (17,173 units, +7.6%) and the Netherlands (67,825 units, +2.9%), and remained stable in France (89,732 units, +0.1%) and Italy (24,575 units, -0.2%). A total of 327,826 mopeds were registered in Europe in 2016, representing a decrease of 3.5% on a year-on year basis.

Registrations by cylinder capacity

Most motorcycles, mopeds and quadricycles registered in Europe in 2016 have a cyclinder capacity of less than 125 cc (672,551 units, 49%). Vehicles with a cyclinder capacity between 126cc and 500cc accounted for 19% of the total (268,103 units), quite close to the number of registered vehicles with engines between 500c and 1000cc (20.6%, 283,868 units). Lastly, vehicles with engines of 1000cc or more totalled 150,444 units (10.9% of the total).

Registrations of electric vehicles

The largest markets for electrically-propelled mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles were: France (7,396 units), the Netherlands (5,203 units), Italy (2,385 units), Spain (1,604 units) and Germany (1,501 units). Of all mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles registered in the EU, 1.6% were electric vehicles. Internal combustion vehicles and vehicles equipped with hybrid propulsion represented 98.4% of the total registrations.

Quote

The Secretary General of the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), Antonio Perlot (Italian) said:

  • “2016 has been a very positive year for the industry, with registrations increasing in most European countries, particularly in the largest European markets: France (253,067 units), Italy (219,865 units), Germany (174,264 units), Spain (172,176 units) and the UK (128,637 units)”.
  • “Strong demand for light vehicles across Europe is a testament to their inherent advantages. Mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles have reduced purchasing and running costs, are easier to park than cars, and reduce travelling times and congestion in cities”.
  • “Nothwithstanding this, our sector still faces a delicate situation. Although more than 1.3 million vehicles were registered in Europe in 2016, that figure is about half the 2.43 million units registered in 2007 before the economic crisis hit”. 
  • “According to our latest estimates, about 156,000 jobs are generated directly or indirectly by our sector in the EU. Activities such as manufacturing of vehicles, parts and componentes, as well as in repair and maintenance of vehicles, or manufacturing of protective equipment to name just a few examples, create jobs all over Europe, particularly in countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and the UK”.
  • “Exports of motorcycles, parts and accesories to foreign countries are essential to sustaining jobs in the motorcycle sector in Europe. In addition to a stronger domestic European market, we need a European trade policy that not only secures strategic free trade agreements with key partners but also one that prevents protectionist policies abroad”.

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical data - December 2016 [xls]

ACEM - Statistical press release - December 2016 [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future ACEM news and press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
P. +32 (0)22 30 97 32
E.

ACEM together with other key manufacturing associations ask for a renewed EU industrial strategy
16 Feb 2017

The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) and other leading European manufacturing associations have reached a cross-industry agreement on the need for the European Union to develop a new and ambitious industrial strategy.

The landmark “Joint Declaration for an ambitious EU industrial strategy” released today calls on the European Commission to reaffirm its commitment to reaching the target of 20% of GDP from industry, with an ambitious and realistic timeline; to urgently adopt an Action Plan to tackle the challenges that the industrial sectors are facing; and to implement this Action Plan in a timely manner and regularly report on progress.

The signatories of the declaration “are ready to step up our cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Competitiveness Council” in order to define and implement “an ambitious and coordinated European industrial strategy” to help safeguard the world leadership of European manufacturers.

The motion is supported by 92 industry associations which directly employ about 34 million people across all EU Member States in supply chains comprising hundreds of thousands of SMEs and larger suppliers.

Quote

Commenting on the joint declaration ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said: “The motorcycle industry in Europe welcomes this joint declaration as an important milestone to promote much-needed cooperation between manufacturing industries, European Union authorities and national administrations”.

“We do hope that the EU institutions and particularly the Ministers and Secretaries of States that will meet on 20 February 2017 to discuss the competitiveness of the European industry will take note of the call of Europe’s key manufacturing sectors”.

“ACEM members fully support the European 20% target of industry's share in Europe's GDP by 2020. In order to achieve this important target, the motorcycle industry needs a clear and predictable type-approval framework that is technically feasible and based on solid economic assessments, as well as a reasonable lead-time to adjust to it”.

“It is also important that Europe remains an attractive business environment. Some of the areas where government action can make a positive difference include: innovation spending, invesment in people’s skills, well designed tax regimes and smart trade policies that promotes access to key markets and avoid increases in protectionist measures abroad”.

Documents available to download

Joint declaration for an ambitious EU industrial strategy (pdf)

Press contact

For further information or to receive future ACEM news and press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
P. +32 (0)22 30 97 32
E.

Note for editors

ACEM, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, is the trade association that represents manufacturers of powered-two and three-wheelers as well as quadricycles (L-category vehicles) in Europe. ACEM members include 17 manufacturing companies and 17 national industry associations in 14 different European countries. About 156,300 jobs depend on the motorcycle, moped, tricycle and quadricycle industry in Europe.

ACEM works closely with the EU institutions, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders, in different policy-areas. These include type-approval of L-category vehicles, environmental legislation, road safety and transport policies, international trade negotiations, etc.

Press release - United States considering additional custom duties on European exports of motorcycles
31 Jan 2017

The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) is deeply concerned about the current decision of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to consider imposing additional customs duties of up to 100% on European motorcycle exports between 51cc and 500cc as of March 2017. This potential measure follows a formal petition to the USTR from the American beef industry, which has requested the opening of a Section 301 proceeding under the 1974 US Trade Act. This seeks to impose additional duties on EU exports to the US as a retaliatory measure against EU restrictions on American beef imports.

The new motorcycle tariff currently under consideration could not only inflict considerable damage to European companies that manufacture goods used by American citizens for both leisure and mobility. It would also negatively affect US small- and medium- enterprises that provide distribution, dealership and repair services, and could potentially lead to the destruction of thousands of jobs in the US.

ACEM, in line with the motorcycle sector at large in Europe and in the United States, calls on the USTR to properly assess this potential measure and to avoid creating an artificial and counterproductive trade barrier that will certainly not encourage a favourable resolution of the beef dispute and that will be damaging for both the EU and the US economies.

Quote

ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said:

“There is no justification for this measure, and the motorcycle sector should not be dragged into trade disputes over food products. ACEM, as the representative of motorcycle manufacturers in Europe, is following this issue closely and presented its observations before the USTR to obtain an immediate exclusion of European motorcycles from the list of products subject to increased duties”.

“We should be looking for new opportunities to promote transatlantic commerce and increase prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic, instead of creating new artificial barriers that hurt European companies, reduce American consumers’ choice and harm jobs in the US”.

“Unilateral measures such as this one will not encourage a favourable resolution of the beef dispute. ACEM calls on the USTR to properly assess the potential measure and counts on the support of the European Commission to ensure that European companies can compete in the US market on fair terms and are not hindered by artificial and counterproductive trade barriers”.

Press contact

For further information or to receive future ACEM news and press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
P. +32 (0)22 30 97 32
E.

Background

  • ACEM, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, is the trade association that represents manufacturers of powered-two and three-wheelers as well as quadricycles (L-category vehicles) in Europe. ACEM members include 17 manufacturing companies and 17 national industry associations in 14 different European countries. About 156,300 jobs depend on the motorcycle, moped, tricycle and quadricycle industry in Europe.
  • ACEM works closely with the EU institutions, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders, in different policy-areas. These include type-approval of L-category vehicles, environmental legislation, road safety and transport policies, international trade negotiations, etc.
  • The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is a Cabinet member who serves as the President’s principal trade adviser, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues. He is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity and direct investment policy.
  • Under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, the USTR is entitled to take unilateral actions and to impose duties upon foreign exports. It is not the first time the European motorcycle industry is targeted by the USTR. In 1999 and 2008, European motorcycles had also been included in – and subsequently removed – from a similar retaliation list.

More information

Comments on the request to reinstate action taken in connection with the EU measures concerning meat
30 Jan 2017

At the request of the US beef industry, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated Section 301 proceedings seeking to impose additional duties on certain EU exports to the U.S., including motorcycles fitted with engines between 51cc and 500cc. These additional duties (up to 100%) would intervene in the context of a 20 years long dispute between the EU and the U.S. over an EU decision to ban imports of beef and beef products produced from animals to which hormones have been administered for growth-promotion purposes.

ACEM strongly believes that the measures under consideration by the USTR will not be effective in encouraging a favorable resolution of the dispute, could lead to overcompensation of the damage alleged by US beef exporters, in violation of WTO rules, and most importantly will reduce US consumers’ choice and could cause economic harm and job losses in the US in the motorcycle sector at large.

ACEM requests an exclusion of motorcycles from the proposed list (as presented in Annex 1 of the USTR notice) before additional duties are imposed.

Documents available to download

ACEM - Comments USTR-2016-0025 [pdf]

ACEM, ACEA, FuelsEurope and UPEI urge Member States to incorporate new standards for fuel identifiers
24 Jan 2017

The Motorcycle Industry in Europe (ACEM), the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA), the Union Pétrolière Européenne Indépendante (UPEI) and FuelsEurope have issued a joint letter asking EU Member States to plan their legislation transposing the EU Directive on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure (DAFI) to take into account the national standards for fuel identifiers that are currently being developed at national level.

These new standards, which will be based on the recently adopted CEN standard EN 16942, will provide for common fuel identifiers that will be placed on new vehicles and fuel pumps. This will allow consumers to know which fuels can be used to refill their vehicles at all filling stations across Europe. The European Commission has already informed national authorities that the new standards must be applied for all new vehicles and fuel pumps as of 12 October 2018.

ACEM, ACEA, UPEI and FuelsEurope will organise common communication activities to inform customers about the new fuel identifiers, and welcome the participations in this initiative of organisations representing European consumers and drivers.

Documents available to download

Joint letter - Implementation of article 7 of the DAFI [pdf]

Motorcycle registrations in largest EU markets up by 8.5% during the first 11 months of 2016
05 Jan 2017

Motorcycle registrations in the largest EU markets - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - grew by 8.5% during the first 11 monhs of 2016, compared to the same period of 2015, reaching 742,515 units.

The strongest performance was recorded in Italy (+11.4%, 186,203 units), followed by Spain (+12.2%, 139,118 units), the UK (+8.5%, 109,715 units), Germany (+7%, 157,156 units) and France (+3.5%, 150,323 units).

Documents available to download

Statistical data - Motorcycle registrations in key EU markets - November 2016 [xls]

Press release - Motorcycle registrations in key EU markets - November [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer E. , P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32.

1,209,006 powered-two and three-wheelers registered during the first 11 months of 2016 in the EU
04 Jan 2017

At least 1,209,006 powered-two and three-wheelers were registered during the first 11 months of 2016 in the EU. This represents an increase of 5.4% compared to the 1,146,948 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015.

Registrations performed positively in all of the key European markets including Italy (+9.8%, 209,147 units), Spain (+11.7%, 154,869 units), UK (+7.1%, 117,647 units), Germany (+4.7%, 186,519 units) and France (+2.1%, 232,715 units).

Motorcycle registrations

During the first 11 months of 2016 cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 8.3% on a year-on year basis. A total of 918,540 motorcycles were registered between January and November 2016, against 848,503 during the same period of 2015.

Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in all of the largest European markets, including Italy (+11.4%, 186,203 units), Spain (+12.2%, 139,118 units), UK (+8.5%, 109,715 units), Germany (+7%, 157,156 units) and France (+3.5%, 150,323 units).

Moped registrations

At least 290,466 mopeds were registered during the first 11 months of 2016 in the EU, whilst 298,445 had been registered during the same period of 2015. This represents a decrease of 2.7%.

Moped registrations increased in Spain (+8.1%, 15,751 units) and the Netherlands (+3.4%, 64,618 units). They remained stable in France (-0.1%, 82,392 units) but declined in Italy (-1.9%, 22,944 units), Germany (-6.1%, 29,363 units) and Poland (-14.1%, 23,255 units).

Documents available to dowload

ACEM - Statistical data - November 2016 [xls]
ACEM - Statistical press release - November 2016 [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
E. , P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32.

Motorcycle and moped registrations up by 4.5% during the first 10 months of 2016
04 Jan 2017

At least 1,151,043 powered-two and three-wheelers were registered during the first 10 months of 2016 in the EU. This represents an increase of 4.5% compared to the 1,101,860 vehicles registered during the same period of 2015.

Registrations performed positively in all of the key European markets including Italy (+9.9%, 199,702 units), Spain (+9.8%, 141,519 units), UK (+6.7%, 110,003 units), Germany (+3.4%, 178,845 units) and France (+1.2%, 217,423 units).

Motorcycle registrations

Cumulative motorcycle registrations grew by 7.4% during the first 10 months of 2016 on a year-on year basis. A total of 870,741 motorcycles were registered between January and October 2016, against 811,013 during the same period of 2015.

Year-on-year motorcycle registrations increased in all of the largest European markets, including Italy (+11.6%, 178,109 units), Spain (+10.3%, 127,265 units), UK (+8%, 102,617 units), Germany (+5.6%, 151,189 units) and France (+2.4%, 140,698 units).

Moped registrations

At least 280,302 mopeds were registered during the first nine months of 2016 in the EU, whilst 290,847 had been registered during the same period of 2015. This represents a decrease of 3.6%.

Moped registrations increased in Spain (+6.1%, 14,254 units) and the Netherlands (+2.9%, 60,618 units). They remained stable in France (-0.9%, 76,455 units) but declined in Italy (-2.2%, 21,593 units), Germany (-7.3%, 27,656 units) and Poland (-14.3%, 22,462 units).

Documents available to dowload

ACEM - Statistical data - October 2016 [xls]
ACEM - Statistical press release - October 2016 [pdf]

Press contact

For further information or to receive future market updates, news or press releases please contact:
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications officer
E. , P. +32 (0) 22 30 97 32.

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