ACEM news

19 Feb 2021

ACEM position paper - Micromobility: The case of the Personal Light Electric Vehicle

Micromobility is rapidly growing as a personal mobility option for European citizens. ACEM believes that micromobility vehicles, as well as all other vehicles, need to operate in a regulatory framework that defines where they can be used, at what speed, after which training, as of what age and in compliance with which design safety rules.

ACEM has been involved in Road Safety policy determination ever since the association was formed, as its members have constantly worked towards increasing the safety of their vehicles and their use.

Whilst not representing the interests of micromobility manufacturers, service providers or users, ACEM would like to hereby present its position on micromobility to help to secure a safe environment for all on our roads.

Documents available to download

ACEM position paper - Micromobility: The case of the Personal Light Electric Vehicle

11 Feb 2021

ACEM statistics - Market 2020: increase for Powered Two-Wheeler registrations in Europe

2020 was a difficult year for the motorcycle sector in Europe. The national lockdowns imposed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in Spring, when the motorcycle market usually picks up, caused a sharp drop, or even a halt, of registrations. Logistic chains were also heavily disrupted, at all levels, for manufacturers and suppliers, impacting production.

In aggregate, the largest European markets for motorcycles and mopeds recovered after Spring, reaching an overall increase of 4% compared to 2019 data, although with different results across the countries. Some as the Netherlands (+30.3%) and Germany (+27%) registered substantial increases, while others such as Italy (-5.3%) and Spain (-8.8%) still lag behind 2019 figures. Generally speaking, the market progressively recovered in the second semester, although positive figures in late 2020 are also partly linked to pre-registrations performed by importers and dealers, due to the end of validity of Euro 4 approvals (31 December 2020), for production falling outside end of series provisions.

Looking at full-year 2020 results, a total of 883,102 motorcycles were registered in 2020 in the five largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) . This represents a marginal increase of 1% compared to 2019 numbers.

The largest motorcycle markets in Europe in 2020 were: Germany (220,304 units), Italy (218,027 units) and France (191,231 units).

The largest European moped markets (i.e., Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain) rose from 246,345 units in 2019 to 279,841 in 2020. This represents an increase of 13.6% on a year-on-year basis. The largest markets for mopeds in Europe were France (98,592 units), the Netherlands (84,732 units) and Germany (35,010 units).

Quote

Commenting on the 2020 registration figures, ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said:

“To a large extent market recovery was due to the renewed attractiveness and convenience of powered two-wheelers for urban and peri-urban commuting, within a sanitary context in which public transportation has not been deemed a safe option by many citizens. Also, with reduced opportunities for holidaying abroad, most consumers having had to delay their purchase in Spring still opted for a new motorcycle later in the year, for leisure activities such as touring closer to home”.

“All in all, the motorcycle sector seems to have coped well with a very difficult year. However, looking ahead, the jury is still out, as many questions remain regarding the overall effects of the ongoing pandemic, on the EU economy and on mobility.”.

Correction

A previous version of this article stated that a total of 923,002 motorcycles and a total of 287,096 mopeds were registered in the largest European markets during 2020.
The correct figure is 883,102 units for the motorcycle segment and 279,841 for the moped segment. This article was amended on 17/02/21.

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - December 2020 [PDF]

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - December 2020 [XLS]

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager

+32 496 52 65 17

25 Jan 2021

U.S. and EU associations send letter to President Biden and President von der Leyen calling for suspension of tariffs

Seventy-two U.S. and European associations representing a wide range of industries sent a letter today to President Joseph R. Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging the immediate suspension of tariffs on sectors unrelated to the ongoing Trans-Atlantic trade disputes.

The coalition stated that suspending tariffs will alleviate economic harms and help re-establish a cooperative Trans-Atlantic trading relationship.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary closures of non-essential businesses continue to affect the global economy, including our sectors which support millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” said the group of U.S. and EU associations. “The ongoing EU-U.S. trade disputes and additional tariffs, which continue to plague Trans-Atlantic trade, have made a bad situation worse. With the damages we have suffered last year and are still suffering, the current situation cannot be allowed to go on any longer.”

The groups stated, “We believe the immediate suspension of these tariffs is a necessary and fundamental action, which will provide an economic stimulus at a time when it is needed most.”

They concluded, “Our industries support a constructive and flourishing trade and economic relationship between the U.S. and EU. Removal of these tariffs will provide the positive momentum to reset the important bilateral relationship and cooperative efforts to address global economic challenges. In addition, a shared commitment to avoid new additional tariffs will create the necessary certainty and stability needed to grow the Trans-Atlantic economy.”

Documents available to download

U.S. and EU associations joint letter to President Biden and President von der Leyen [PDF]

Press contact

For further information please contact:
Lisa Hawkins. Distilled Spirits Council
P. +1 (202) 256-1330

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications manager
E.
P. +32 496 52 65 17

11 Dec 2020

The Connected Motorcycle Consortium launches the Basic Specification C-ITS for Motorcycles

Today, 11 December 2020, the Connected Motorcycle Consortium (CMC) launched the Basic Specification Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) for motorcycles. The Consortium published a set of documents addressing various topics related to the introduction of C-ITS for motorcycles, such as: triggering conditions, localisation accuracy, algorithms and communicated data, as well as rider interface and antenna performance.

This breakthrough result is the outcome of all the efforts made over the years by CMC members, who have been working intensively to achieve this goal.

The CMC has made significant progress in this area through several studies, the development and evaluation of prototype bikes and thanks to meetings and discussions with different major stakeholders.

About CMC and the importance of connectivity for motorcycle safety

The CMC was created in 2016, building on the ACEM Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems. Motorcycle manufacturers, suppliers, researchers and associations joined forces with the objective to make motorcycles part of the future connected mobility.

ACEM, which is a member, contributed to the achievement of one of the main goals of the Consortium: to define common ‘Basic Specifications C-ITS systems for motorcycles’ and have them ready for publication by the end of 2020.

C-ITS allows road vehicles to communicate with each other, with roadside infrastructure and with other road users. C-ITS has a high potential, especially for motorcycles, to prevent accidents.

CMC has been working on around 30 applications, in which connectivity would allow to warn drivers and riders of potentially dangerous situations.

The integration of motorcycles in the C-ITS ecosystem will bring significant safety benefits and will lead to better integration of motorcycles in the transport system.

Quote

Claire Depré, Head of Unit Sustainable & Intelligent Transport, DG Mobility and Transport, EC has
congratulated CMC “for the work carried out, for bringing much more innovation and contributing to the safety of the overall transport system.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.cmc-info.net/.

13 Nov 2020

The EU adopts new rules on end-of-series to help the motorcycle sector to cope with the COVID-19 outbreak

The Official Journal of the European Union published today a special legislative measure modifying the end-of-series rules included in EU Regulation 168/2013 to help companies and dealers to cope with the effects of the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

2020 is a particular year for the sector, as the 31 December is set – by legislation – to be the final date by which vehicles placed on the market can be homologated as Euro 4. Under the new article 44a of EU Regulation 168/2013, manufacturers facing a problem of excess inventory of Euro 4 vehicles as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns introduced across Europe can request the national authorities of the relevant Member State permission to place in the market their excess inventory until 31 December 2021. This new measure complements – as a derogation – the current end-of-series rule (article 44).

The national authority concerned will decide, within a month of receiving the request, whether to permit the registration of those end-of-series vehicles within its territory and in what number. Under this arrangement, a special entry qualifying the vehicles as “2021 - end-of-series” will be made on the certificate of conformity of the vehicles put into service.

The application of these specific and exceptional end-of-series measures will be restricted to the number of vehicles that were in stock at the moment of the national lockdowns. The number of vehicles benefiting from these provisions “should not exceed the number of Euro 4 L-category vehicles that were in stock on 15 March 2020”, which was estimated by industry experts at around 550,000 units for the entire EU market.

Why were the original end-of-series provisions insufficient?

EU type-approval rules foresee a standard flexibility mechanism called “end of series”, which allowed OEMs to continue making available on the market, register or enter into service a limited part of their stock of vehicles when moving from one Euro step to another. However, this standard flexibility clause was assessed as insufficient (limited to 10% of the past 2 years registrations per type) to address the problem of extra vehicle stock created by heavy manufacturing and distribution disruptions due to the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

The end-of series (article 44a of EU Regulation 168/2013) complements the current rules on end-of-series (article 44 of the same EU Regulation), which grant the possibility to register a limited number of Euro 4 vehicles (up to 10% of past 2 years registrations, per OEM type) until 31 December 2022.

Outlook

The revised modified end-of-series will enter into force on 14 November 2020.
EU Member States must inform the European Commission on the number of vehicles for which end-of-series status has been granted under the new “article 44a” by 1 July 2021.

Documents available to download

EU Regulation 2020/1694 amending EU Regulation 168/2013 as regards specific measures on L-category end-of-series vehicles in response to the COVID-19 pandemic [PDF]

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua. ACEM communications manger
E.
M. 32 (0)2 23 0 97 32

05 Nov 2020

Registrations of motorcycles and mopeds in largest European markets slightly rose again

Between January and September 2020, motorcycle registrations in the five largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, i.e. about 80% of the EU + UK motorcycle market) reached 708,503 units. This volume of registrations represents a decrease of 3.3% in comparison to the first nine months of 2019.

The current registration trends in the motorcycle segment, however, show an improvement in comparison to the first six months of the year, when the motorcycle registrations in the main European markets had fallen on average by 17%. This was due to the paralysis of commercial activity, caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus (see the previous press releases here and here).

The moped segment looks in better shape, with registrations in the largest European markets (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain) reaching a total of 205,688 units during the first nine months of 2020. This represents an increase of 6.4% in comparison to the same period of 2019.

Quote

Commenting on the current situation of the sector, Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said: “The registration figures for the first 9 months of the year show that the sector is slowly starting to recover from the very difficult months of March and April 2020 that had put the sector under unprecedented financial stress. The situation remains delicate, and the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 outbreak is not over yet”.

“That said, there are reasons to be optimistic. The recent decision by the EU institutions to extend the cut-off deadline for selling Euro 4 models until 31 of December 2021, will certainly help the motorcycle industry to better cope with this crisis”.

“Also, the COVID-19 crisis creates opportunities for policy-makers to rethink about local transport policy. The crisis has clearly shown that overreliance on public transport can create vulnerabilities in cities' transport systems. A preferable better approach would be to find a balance between different transport modes. Better integration of two-wheelers in the transport mix, for example, can reduce the present risks of operating public transport networks at full capacity".

Note

The new "COVID-19 measure" (article 44a, EU Regulation 168/2013) will complement the current rules on End of Series (art. 44, EU Regulation 168/2013), which grant the possibility to register a limited amount of Euro 4 vehicles (up to 10% of past 2 years sales, per OEM type) until 31/12/2022. The agreement between the European Parliament and the Council is pending of final adoption and publication in the EU official journal.

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - September 2020 [xls]

ACEM - Statistical press release - January - September 2020 - EN [pdf]

ACEM - Statistical releases - FAQ [pdf]

ACEM - Statistical releases - Glossary [pdf]

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager

+32 496 52 65 17

20 Oct 2020

ACEM welcomes positive vote of the Council and Parliament on the revision of Euro 4 “end of series” provisions

The motorcycle industry in Europe welcomes the recent decision by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to endorse the European Commission’s proposal adapting the rules on end-of-series vehicles in EU Regulation 168/2013. This amendment will give motorcycle dealers and companies across Europe, which have been affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the possibility to sell their stock of Euro 4 vehicles until 31 December 2021.

The proposal supported by the two legislative bodies will cover only the vehicles that were in stock at the moment when national lockdowns were introduced across the EU. More specifically, the amount of vehicles benefiting from the revised end-of-series measures will not exceed the number of Euro 4 L-category vehicles in stock in the EU on 15 March 2020, which was estimated by industry experts at around 550,000 units.

A much-needed revision of end of series

Under EU type-approval rules, all Euro 4 motorcycles needed to be registered before the application of the environmental Euro 5 step on 1 January 2021. This requirement was impossible to achieve as a result of the drop on sales caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU type-approval rules foresaw a flexibility mechanism called “end of series”, which allowed manufacturers to continue making available on the market, register or enter into service a limited part of their stock of Euro 4 vehicles. However, this flexibility clause was not sufficient to address the problem of extra vehicle stock created by the sudden outbreak of the virus.

The political agreement reached by the two European legislators will help motorcycle companies and dealers to better face these troublesome times.

It is worth emphasizing that the amendment to the end-of-series provisions in EU Regulation 168/2013 will not affect the original timeline foreseen for the introduction of the Euro 5 standard, i.e. 1 January 2021 for existing moped and motorcycle models type-approved before the 1 January 2020.

Quote

Commenting on the political agreement reached by the EU institutions, Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said:

“ACEM welcomes the positive vote of the Council and the European Parliament on this important legislative file. The amendment to EU Regulation 168/2013 will help those manufacturers in need of specific support and will help to bridge the gap towards Euro 5. The new rules will also provide a much needed ‘safety net’ for the entire sector, including downstream dealerships, and will prevent the unnecessary scrapping of Euro 4 vehicles”.

“The motorcycle sector thanks European Commission’s President von der Leyen as well as Commissioner Breton and his team at DG GROW for their decisive political dealership and swift response to this crisis”.

“Over the coming the months, ACEM but most importantly – as since day one – the sector national associations will continue working constructively with public authorities to ensure that the new end-of-series rules support manufacturing in Europe and dealerships in these challenging times”.

Documents available to download

ACEM press release - ACEM welcomes positive vote of the Council and European Parliament on the revision of Euro 4 “end of series” provisions [PDF]

Press contact

Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communications assistant
E.
M. +32 22 30 16 83

14 Oct 2020

The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers welcomes four new members

On 22 September 2020, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) held its 30th General Assembly. The event was held online, due to the COVID-19 limitations applicable to large meetings.

The ACEM General Assembly approved the acceptance of Zero Motorcycles as a new guest member of the association. Zero Motorcycles is an American manufacturer of electric vehicles that produces high performance electric motorcycles. Since 2006, when the first prototypes were produced in Santa Cruz, California, Zero has rapidly grown into an internationally known motorcycle company.

Further to this, three trade associations representing the motorcycle sector at national level joined ACEM: the Associação Automóvel de Portugal (ACAP), the Hungarian Vehicle Importers Association (MGE) and the Association of Automobile Importers (SDA, Czech Republic).

Quote

Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said: "I am delighted to welcome Zero Motorcycles, ACAP, MGE and SDA to the ACEM family, and look forward to start working with their representatives soon. With the addition of these new members, ACEM will now represent a total of 19 manufacturing companies and 20 national industry associations across Europe”.