ACEM news

14 Jun 2019

Motorcycle registrations in the EU increased by 19.2% during the first three months of 2019

Registrations of motorcycles in the EU increased in most EU countries during the first 3 months of 2019. According to the latest figures of the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), registrations reached 244,991 units. This represents an increase of 19.2% compared to the same period of 2018.

With 54,826 units (a 18.7% increase on a year-on-year basis) Italy remains the largest European motorcycle market, followed by Germany (44,450 motorcycles, +23.3%), France (43,942 motorcycles, +20.0%), Spain (37,255 motorcycles, +20.5%) and the UK (25,913 motorcycles, +10.3%).

Moped registrations in the EU also increased by 30%

The European moped market reached 52,715 units during the first 3 months of 2019. This represents an increase of about 30.1% compared to the registration levels of the same period in 2018 (40,522 units). The largest markets for mopeds in Europe were France (17,997 units), Netherlands (13,040 units), Belgium (4,683 units), Spain (3,993 units) and Italy (3,846 units).

Registrations of electric vehicles up by 71% in the EU

Combined registrations of electric mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles reached 14,251 units during the first three months of 2019. This represents a substantial increase of 71.2% compared to the registration levels of the first three months of 2018 (8,326 units).

Most of the electric L-category vehicles registered in the first three months of 2019 are mopeds (11,258), followed by motorcycles (2,295 units). The largest European markets in terms of volume were France, where combined registrations of mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles totalled 4,407 units (+105% on a year-on-year basis), followed by Belgium (2 627 vehicles, +78.5%), Netherlands (2 598 vehicles, +52.6%), Spain (1,632 vehicles, +28%) and Italy (901 vehicles, +49,2%).

Quote

Commenting on the latest figures, Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM, said:

“The increase in vehicle registrations reflects the overall improving economic conditions across Europe, particularly in the largest EU markets, as well as European citizens’ preference for an an enjoyable and convenient means of transport”.

“At the same time, given the seasonal nature of motorcycle and moped markets, we will need to wait for the registration figures of late July to assess whether 2019 has been a very good year for our industry”.

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical press release - Q1 2019 [pdf]

ACEM - Statistical press release - Q1 2019 [xls]

Press contact

Ilaria Balloni
ACEM communications assistant
E.
P. +32 (0)22 30 97 32

10 Apr 2019

European Commissioner for Transport endorses the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label

On 4 April 2019, coinciding with the beginning of the motorcycle riding season, the European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc addressed a video message to motorcyclists, in which she encouraged riders “to embrace a responsible approach to motorcycling and to attend voluntary advanced safety training on a regular basis”.

Commissioner Bulc pointed out that: “Europe has some high-quality training schemes on offer” and that the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label will help motorcyclists “to identify the very best motorcycle safety training courses available in Europe”. The European Commissioner added: “We are grateful that the European Motorcycling Training Quality Label has been set up, responding to our call for voluntary commitments”.

Stefan Pierer, President of ACEM, the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, and CEO of KTM, said: “We are delighted that the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label has the support of the European Commissioner for Transport. High quality post-licence training helps motorcyclists to improve their riding skills. It can also make their experience not only more enjoyable but also safer. This label, which is part of the sector’s long-term safety strategy, will have a very positive impact on motorcycle safety across Europe”.

The European Motorcycle Training Quality Label is a certification scheme open to a wide range of organisations based in Europe offering advanced safety training. It was launched in 2015 by ACEM and DVR, the German Road Safety Council, with the aim to help motorcyclists to easily identify high-quality post-license training programmes across Europe. Subsequently, the International Motorcycling Federation, FIM, joined the partnership and the European Transport Safety Council, ETSC, provided its endorsement.

To date, a total of 28 post-license motorcycle training programmes have been certified in Sweden, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany, and further applications are under evaluation (https://motorcycle-training-label.eu).

Media

ACEM press release - European Commissioner for Transport endorses the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label supporting high quality safety training [pdf]

Video message from the Commissioner for Transport

Press contact

Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communications assistant

+32 (0)22 30 97 32

21 Mar 2019

ACEM General Assembly confirms Presidium and welcomes Quadro and TEKNINEN as its two new members

Today the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) held its 29th General Assembly. The event was hosted by Yamaha MBK at its manufacturing facility in Saint-Quentin, France.

The ACEM General Assembly confirmed the current Presidium for a new two-year mandate. President Mr. Stefan Pierer (CEO of KTM AG) and Vice-Presidents Mr. Michele Colaninno (member of Piaggio & C. SpA’s board of directors, CEO and COO of the Immsi Group, which controls the Piaggio Group) and Mr. Markus Schramm (President of BMW Motorrad) will start these new mandates on 1 July 2019.

During the General Assembly, ACEM also welcomed Quadro and Tekninen as new guest members of the European association.

Quadro Vehicles is a Swiss vehicle manufacturer that develops three and four-wheelers used mostly for urban mobility and characterized by a hydro-pneumatic suspension system which grants the vehicles an all-wheel tilting technology. The company, which manufactures both electric and internal combustion engine vehicles, is headquartered in Vacallo, Switzerland, and counts more than 500 retailers in 20 different countries all over the world.

Tekninen, the Association of Finnish Technical Traders, brings together about 380 Finnish companies, with combined annual sales of more than 10 billion Euros, representing about 85% of Finnish businesses. Tekninen’s motorcycle branch, one of the association’s 20 areas of operation, is a forum for companies active in the importing of motorcycles and mopeds, and related services. Tekninen’s motorcycle divisions aims to support the competitiveness of its members and raise industry profile in cooperation with stakeholders.

With the addition of these two members, ACEM's membership will now include a total of 18 manufacturing companies and 17 national industry associations.

Press contact

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

20 Mar 2019

Bruxelles Mobilité organises the third edition of the «Brussels motorcyclists’ day»

On Sunday 24 March 2019, the Région de Bruxelles-Capitale will organise the third edition of ‘La journée bruxelloise du motard’ (‘Brussels Motorday’), an initiative by Bruxelles Mobilité in collaboration with Via Secura.

12 Feb 2019

Registrations of motorcycles in the European Union increased by 9.9% in 2018

A total of 1,004,063 motorcycles were registered in 2018 in the EU according to the final figures published today by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM). This represents an increase of 9.9% compared to 2017 numbers. The largest motorcycle markets in Europe in 2018 were: Italy (219,694 units), France (177,460 units) and Spain (159,946 motorcycles). Motorcycle figures include both two- and three-wheeled vehicles with an engine capacity above 50cc as well as electric motorcycles.

The European moped market dropped from 399,420 units in 2017 to 273,645 in 2018. This represented a decrease of 31.5%. The largest markets for mopeds in Europe were: France (72,940), Netherlands (58,969), Germany (25,634), Belgium (21,391) and Italy (21,326).

Registrations of electric motorcyles and mopeds increased in 2018 in the EU

In addition, the European electric motorcycle market grew from 4,121 units in 2017 to 7,478 units in 2018 (+81.5%). However, it remains at niche levels. Only 0.75% of all motorcycles registered in Europe in 2018 were electric. Registrations of electric mopeds in the EU increased substantially from 27,029 units in 2017 to 39,701 units in 2018 (+46.9%). The electric quadricycle market remained substantially stable at 3,242 units (-2.4% vs 2017).

Quote

Commenting on the latest market trends ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said:

“2018 has been a positive year for the motorcycle industry, with motorcycle registrations increasing in almost all EU countries, and double digit growth figures in key markets such as Spain and Germany. Notwithstanding the short term fluctuations created by the shift from the Euro 3 to the Euro 4 standard, the European motorcycle market shows a general positive trend since 2013”.

“On the other hand, moped registrations in 2018 suffered a significant reduction, largely linked to the effect of the transition to Euro 4. This decline was only partially compensanted by higher electric moped registrations. Indeed, although the number of electric mopeds sold increased by 47% on a year-on-year basis, for the time being the absolute volumes remain at niche levels”.

“In any event, combined registrations of electric L-category vehicles (i.e. mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles) do show a clear upward trend since 2011. This is particularly the case for those vehicle segments used for short- and medium range urban commuting and for which electrification is technically easier.

Corrigendum (12 February 2019)

This web article was amended on 12 February 2019. The previous version of the text incorrectly stated that Germany was the third largest motorcycle market in Europe. In 2018 Spain was the third largest motorcycle market in the EU, behind Italy and France.

Documents available to download

ACEM - Statistical press release - 2018 figures [pdf]

ACEM - 2018 Final registrations figures [xls]

ACEM - 2018 Final registrations charts [xls]

Press contact

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

24 Jan 2019

ACEM welcomes the position of the Internal Market Committee of the European Parliament on the MID

In May 2018 the European Commission proposed a review of the Motor Insurance Directive (MID), aiming to strengthen the rules on motor insurance and better protect victims of motor vehicle accidents. In its legislative proposal the European Commission proposed to clarify the scope of this Directive based on the recent case law of the European Union Court of Justice.

This resulted in a proposal to include motorsports in the scope of the Directive without making an appropriate distinction between vehicles used in traffic and non-traffic situations. Further to this, a coalition of organisations led by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which brings together the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM), and the All-Terrain Vehicle Industry European Association (ATVEA) expressed their concerns about the damaging consequences of the Commission’s proposal for motor sports in Europe.

During the parliamentary discussions on the file, the members of the European Parliament's Internal Market Committee (IMCO) adopted a report recommending excluding “vehicles intended exclusively for motorsports” from the scope of the Directive, “as these vehicles are generally covered by other forms of liability insurance and are not subject to compulsory motor insurance when they are solely used for a competition”. The report also made it clear that it was necessary to make an appropriate distinction between “in traffic” and “non-traffic” situations in the scope of the Directive.

Quote

Commenting on this debate, ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said: “ACEM welcomes and congratulates the work of the European Parliament and of its rapporteur Ms Dita Charanzová, who has shown a clear understanding of the concerns shared by key stakeholders, particularly the severe implications for motorcycle sports and related leisure activities in Europe”.

“The motorcycle industry in Europe calls now on Members of the European Parliament to support the decision adopted by the IMCO committee during the next European Parliament Plenary session that will take place on 13 February 2019 in Strasbourg. A similar approach should be followed by the Council of the EU during the upcoming trilogue negotiations which will take place later in 2019”.

Press contact

Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua
ACEM communications manager
Email
Phone +32 (0)22 30 97 32

Documents available to download

PRESS RELEASE - ACEM welcomes the position of the Internal Market Committee of the European Parliament on the MID

07 Dec 2018

The European Transport Safety Council joins the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label consortium

Today the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), the most important NGO in the field of road safety in Europe, has joined the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label consortium as a supporter member. The Label is a voluntary certification scheme for motorcycle post-licence training programmes. It aims to help motorcyclists easily identify the best safety training programmes in Europe.

14 Nov 2018

Honda Safety Institute receives the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label award

Today the “advanced motorcycling course” of the Honda Safety Institute in Barcelona, received the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label. The award, which recognizes the best post-license training programmes delivered in Europe, was granted after an onsite visit by safety experts from the German Road Safety Council (DVR), the most important German NGO active in the field of road safety.