The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) hosted an online conference today at the occasion of the launch of its Vision 2030+, a set of strategic documents that outline the vision of the motorcycle industry for the future of motorcycling in Europe.
During the event, senior industry leaders and policy-makers from the European Parliament and the European Commission, the International Transport Forum and the World Health Organisation, discussed key issues for the future of motorcycling, such as the progressive decarbonisation of two-wheelers through electric propulsion and e-fuels, environmental performance improvements and ongoing efforts to further enhance motorcycling safety.
The speakers also touched upon the importance of sustainable economic growth for all, of standardisation and of cross-industry cooperation in platforms such as the Swappable Batteries Consortium and the Connected Motorcycle Consortium. Major European initiatives such as the Fit for 55 package, the future Regulation on the deployment of alternative fuels, the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the coming Urban Mobility package were also part of the discussions.
Moderated by Aled Walker, “Future of Mobility” Leader at Deloitte, the online event attracted more than 900 people from 40 countries across the world. Participants were given the opportunity to engage in a live and open discussion with the panellists, using the #ACEMVision hashtag.
A recorded video of the event will be available in the coming days on the ACEM YouTube channel.
Quotes
ACEM Vice-President and Head of BMW Motorcycles, Dr. Markus Schramm: “The Vision 2030+ that we are presenting today is the result of a long-term reflection at the highest levels of the European motorcycle industry. Vision 2030+ is about the future of mobility but also about the valuable contribution our industry can make to help Europe achieve its goals in areas such as industrial policy, decarbonisation and road safety”.
ACEM Secretary General, Antonio Perlot: “Through this Vision 2030+, the motorcycle industry is gearing up to be a part of tomorrow’s European transport system, with advanced and increasingly sustainable products meeting different societal needs, such as personal mobility, leisure and last mile deliveries. Recognition and support by policymakers will be key to turn it into reality”.
Press Contact
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua ACEM Communications Manager E. T. +32 22 30 97 32
In the first nine months of 2021, motorcycle registrations in five of the largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK) rose by 10.6% compared to the same period of 2020, totalling 792,819 units.
As expected, due to the different impact of COVID-19 disruptions in Spring 2020, almost all the main national markets registered volume gains in 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, with Italy showing the biggest increase (+27.9%). UK, Spain and France also performed well, seeing a 13.5%, 8.7% and 8.5% increase, respectively, while in Germany new registrations decreased slightly (-4.9%).
The moped segment remained overall steady in the six European moped markets covered (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain) compared to last year’s figures, reaching a total of 206,751 units in the first nine months of 2021 (-0,2% compared to the same period in 2020).
For a better comparison, considering pre-pandemic registration data, nine months into 2021 the European motorcycle market is showing signs of growth (792,819 units for January-September 2021 against 732,594 units for January-September 2019, representing a 8.2% increase). The moped market follows a similar trend: over the same period of time, with 206,751 units registered, representing a 6.8% increase on a year-on-year basis.
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Commenting on the current situation of the sector, Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said:
“In aggregate, the registration figures for the first nine months of 2021 confirm market recovery after the impact of COVID-19 in the first months of last year, which had overall put the sector under unprecedented stress.
More importantly, the latest data confirms that powered two-wheeler markets in Europe have globally surpassed pre-Covid-19 figures, with significant increases for motorcycles and for mopeds.”
“These interim 2021 results could have been even more positive, if it weren’t for the global semiconductor shortage affecting the automotive sector, and indirectly causing logistical delays for some motorcycle manufacturer’s production”.
“The last quarter figures will tell us if these trends are confirmed, but altogether, the numbers confirm that powered two-wheelers remain an attractive and convenient solution for mobility and leisure activities.”
Press contact
Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communications assistant E. T. +32 22 30 97 32
Ahead of the G20 Heads of State & Government Summit to be held in Rome this weekend, 74 sectors unrelated to the Section 232 steel and aluminium dispute urge U.S. & EU leaders to reach an agreement to remove retaliatory tariffs, and the threat of tariffs, on products unrelated to the dispute.
Since June 2018, our industries, suppliers and supply chains have greatly suffered from the imposition or threat of tariffs stemming from the steel & aluminium dispute, which is wholly unrelated to our sectors. The last 18 months have been particularly challenging due to the COVID-19 crisis. We are only slowly starting to rebound from this crisis, while facing supply chain and logistics disruptions. Tariffs, and the threat of tariffs, are acting as major barriers at a time when we want to focus on creating jobs, growth and investments in both Europe and the U.S.
We welcome the EU’s decision not to impose the second tranche of rebalancing tariffs on 1 June to de-escalate the Section 232 dispute and the pledge made by the U.S. and EU to find a solution before 1 December. However, with only a month left before the 1 December deadline, we now need to see a permanent resolution of this dispute which has already lasted far too long. This will allow the EU and U.S. to strengthen the transatlantic trading relationship, which is of key importance to our industries, and to tackle pressing common challenges together, in a spirit of unity.
On 21 October, the European Parliament officially adopted the Provisional Agreement on the new Motor Insurance Directive, as agreed between Council and EP negotiators back in June. This is the final stretch of a lengthy process, started in April 2018, during which the Member States (Council) and the European Parliament worked out towards a compromise to finally revise the Motor Insurance Directive.
In the now adopted text (adopted by 689 votes in favour, 3 against and 4 abstentions) vehicles that do not enter public roads, such as motorcycles and cars that are exclusively used “in a restricted and demarcated area, with the purpose of and in a manner that the ordinary traffic, the public or any party unrelated to the activity cannot actually or potentially share the route that is being driven”, as well as electric assisted bicycles and electric kick-scooters, are excluded from the scope of the Directive. As far as motorsport activities are concerned, the scope of the Motor Insurance Directive has been clarified: vehicles intended exclusively for motorsports are excluded from the scope of the Directive too.
The Rapporteur of the text in the European Parliament, Dita Charanzová, emphasized that “today is a good day for all vehicle users in Europe and for anyone who unfortunately finds themselves injured in an accident. If your insurance company goes bankrupt, you will be protected. Harmonised claim history statements will mean no more excuses for discriminating against good drivers in the EU. We protected the uptake of e-bikes, confirming they do not require European insurance. And we ended the uncertainty around European motorsports, which can continue to race without impossible insurance requirements. These are concrete examples of a Europe that works for its citizens.”
ACEM welcomes the outcome of the revision as it should end unclarity and unrealistic over-regulation in this area and takes this opportunity to thank the Rapporteur for the excellent work on a very complex file. ACEM also salute the work of the other representatives of the motorcycle and motorsport and recreational sectors (FIM, FEMA, ATVEA and the FIA) and the good collaboration on this important topic.
The law now needs to be formally adopted by the Council, the other co-legislator, and published in the EU Official Journal. The new rules will start to apply 24 months after the entry into force, leaving time for the Member States to transpose the new Directive at national level.
Press contact
Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communications assistant. E. T. +32 22 30 97 32
The ACEM 2021 conference will bring together senior industry executives and leading policy-makers to discuss the motorcycle industry’s Vision for the future, the contribution of motorcycling to different forms of mobility in Europe, and how the sector fits within the current and future policies of the EU to the horizon 2030-2050.
Some of the topics that will be discussed include:
Motorcycling in cities, traffic congestion and local environmental policies
Regulation 168/2013 on type-approval of L-category vehicles and environmental standards
Engine efficiency and electrification of transport
Pollutant emissions (HC, NOx, PM)
GEAR 2030 and the future of the automotive sector in Europe
Latest market trends
Date and venue
24 January 2018
Renaissance Hotel. 19, Rue du Parnasse, Brussels
Programme of the event
11:00 - 11:25
Keynote speeches
11:30 - 13:00
Panel discussion and Q&A session
13:00 - 14:30
Walking lunch and networking coffee. Vehicle exhibition including electric prototypes developed by the RESOLVE consortium
Echoing the statements of automotive suppliers and manufacturers on the current shortage of semiconductors at global level, ACEM has taken steps to voice its members’ concerns on the situation as well as to highlight the strategic importance of semiconductors for the motorcycle industry too.
In a letter recently addressed to EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, ACEM calls on the European Commission to support current and future endeavours to obtain additional supplies of semiconductors for the whole automotive sector, including the motorcycle segment.
ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot took the opportunity to salute the European Commission’s active work towards a more localised production of strategic components in the EU, while underlining that the medium/long term vision would not address the current urgency and short‐term supply problem the industry is facing today. ACEM trusts that the European Commission will continue to engage with its regional counterparts in the coming weeks and months. It is now crucial to rapidly secure the usual flow of components needed to support the industry on the path towards achieving the EU’s ambitions set in the Green Deal.
Press contact
Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communication assistant E. T. +32 22 30 97 32
As EU & US leaders are about to turn a new page in their relationship and launch the transatlantic Trade & Technology Council, we want to stress the importance of resolving the Section 232 dispute once and for all, and of removing the tariffs which unfairly impact products and sectors unrelated to the source of the dispute.
Our organisations want to reiterate the critical importance of the transatlantic relationship for our sectors, the European economy & employment in Europe. We welcome the steps taken by both sides to seek to de-escalate the dispute in the last months – and particularly the EU’s decision not to impose the second tranche of rebalancing measures on 1 June. We fully support the common goal to reach a fruitful solution & thereby remove all remaining punitive tariffs by the end of November. The removal of all remaining rebalancing tariffs and the commitment not to impose new tariffs would provide a welcome boost to our sectors, many of which have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic and related economic slowdown.
Many of our sectors rely on open trade flows with the US as part of their production processes in the EU. For others, affected US goods are an essential and integral part of their portfolios, allowing them to invest in EU production & distribution and create local jobs and growth in the EU in the process. We call on President von der Leyen, Vice-President Dombrovskis and EU leaders to intensify their efforts towards a comprehensive and speedy resolution of this dispute, in order to support our members in their post-COVID recovery efforts and to help boost & accelerate investment in the EU. Securing the permanent removal of tariffs on unrelated sectors will also allow both sides to establish a positive transatlantic trade agenda and focus on common areas of interest, such as climate change, the digital agenda and reform of the WTO.
ACEM press contact
Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communication assistant E. T. +32 22 30 97 32
The joint release was issued by the following trade associations:
ACEM (European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers); CAOBISCO (Association of the Chocolate, Biscuits and Confectionery industries of Europe); CECIMO (European Association of the Machine Tool Industries and related Manufacturing Technologies); Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council); CEMA (European Agricultural Machinery Association); EuroCommerce; EBI (European Boating Industry); FEC (Federation of European manufacturers of Cookware and cutlery); FRUCOM (European Federation of the trade in dried fruit, edible nuts, processed fruit & vegetables and processed fishery products); spiritsEUROPE
In April 2017, the US Commerce Department launched an investigation on the impact of the import of aluminium and steel for US national security, which lead to the imposition of a 25% import duty on steel from all foreign producers and 10% on aluminium from 23 March, 2018.
EU officials introduced counterbalancing measures on US products on 20 June 2018. The new import duty on affected US products first applied on 22 June 2018. Under this implementing regulation, the Commission introduced a clause whereby a second trance of rebalancing measures would apply from 1 June 2021, in the absence of a satisfactory solution before then.
On 17 May 2021, the European Commission announced the EU had agreed with the US to suspend the second tranche of rebalancing measures in the ongoing steel and aluminium dispute. On the same day, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the start of discussions to address global steel and aluminum excess capacity.
On 15 June 2021, EU & US leaders formally agreed to engage in discussions to allow the resolution of existing differences on measures regarding steel and aluminium before the end of the year. Since then, both sides have expressed a willingness to find a solution by the end of November 2021.
In the absence of a resolution of the dispute or decision to postpone their entry into force, the second tranche of EU rebalancing measures would be in force from 1 December 2021.
Today five new motorcycle training programmes, in Italy, Cyprus, Greece and Portugal, were awarded the European Motorcycle Training Quality Label, an initiative jointly led by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) and the German Road Safety Council (DVR).
The awarded programmes are:
“Importance of Protective Equipment - Accident Risk Assessment - Riding Skills Development”, a programme offered by the Cyprus Motorcycles Federation
“Advice on Advanced Riding - E.Q.L.” a programme offered by the Hellenic Motorcycle Institute MOTOTHESIS
“Safe Driving Course” and “Advanced Safe Driving Course”, two programmes offered by the Italian Motorcyclists Federation (FMI)
“Ride safer - Motorcycle training”, a programme offered by the PRP (Prevenção Rodoviária Portuguesa), the Portuguese association for the prevention of road accidents
These training programmes have received the Provisional European Motorcycle Training Quality Label, which will be valid for a period of 12 months. This Label certifies that the above-mentioned training programmes are of high quality as well as road safety-oriented based on the programme screening and initial assessment. An on-site evaluation by DVR safety experts will take place as soon as the COVID-19 situation allows it.
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Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), said: “The Label is not only part of the motorcycle industry’s forward-looking safety strategy but also an excellent example of how cooperation between industry players, NGOs, motorcycle trainers and users’ organisations can deliver positive results in motorcycle safety. The European Motorcycle Training Quality Label has been strongly supported by the European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean and the European Coordinator for Road Safety Matthew Baldwin.”
Julia Fohmann, Spokesperson of the German Road Safety Council (DVR), said: “We are glad that new training programmes are joining the network of excellence of high-quality safety training providers in Europe. The European Motorcycle Training Quality Label aims to encourage riders to undergo voluntary safety training on a regular basis. This motivates us to continue working every day to make Europe’s roads safer”.
Damiano Zamana, Deputy CEO of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), said: “The FIM considers that life-long training is essential to improve the safety of motorcyclists. Having certified programmes delivering high-quality, post-licence, training contents is one of the objectives of the FIM Strategy 2024. We are pleased to see that our members, in Italy and Cyprus, are actively delivering training programs. At the same time, in Portugal and Greece, the cooperation between the awardees and our members is an example of best practices in support of riders’ safety. The FIM will continue supporting high-quality training for all motorcyclists”.
Press contact
For further information please contact: Ilaria Balloni. ACEM communications assistant E. P. +32 22 30 97 32
On 29 September 2021, the International Transport Forum (ITF) holds the closing event of the Motorcyclists safety workshop “Riding in a Safe System”.
The workshop was co-organised by the International Transport Forum (ITF), the Swedish Transport Administration, VTI, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), and the motorcycle manufacturers associations (ACEM and IMMA). It is a follow-up to the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Stockholm in February 2020, and was focused on the nine recommendations of the Academic Expert Group and their application to motorcyclists’ safety, building on the 2008 Lillehammer workshop and on the 2015 ITF research report “Improving Safety for Motorcycle, Scooter and Moped Riders”.
The closing session will be the occasion to present the outcome of the workshop, in the form of seven thematic recommendations.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all. Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, the organisation works on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges.
About the ITF
The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 62 member countries. It acts as a think tank for transport policy and organises the Annual Summit of transport ministers. ITF is the only global body that covers all transport modes. The ITF is administratively integrated with the OECD, yet politically autonomous.
Contact
Véronique Feypell de la Beaumelle IRTAD Manager of the Road Safety Programme E.
A new piece of research by Oxford Economics shows that the motorcycle sector in the EU and the UK supports about 389,000 jobs through different activities including the manufacturing of vehicles, parts and accessories, and personal protective equipment, as well as motorcycle-related activities.
The study has also found that just in 2019, the motorcycle sector contributed about € 21.4 billion of GDP across Europe. All in all, every € 1 of GDP created directly by motorcycle businesses supported a further € 1.80 of GDP in other industries, due to the various knock-on expenditure impacts.
In terms of tax revenue, the motorcycle sector and related activities generated about € 16.6 billion, making motorcycling an important contributor to public finances, particularly in large markets like Germany, France, Italy, UK and Spain.
Europe-based motorcycle companies export goods for about € 2.1 billion per year
The report also analyzed the role of the motorcycle industry in the area of international trade. EU and UK based motorcycle companies export every year about € 2.1 billion worth of vehicles, parts and components to non-European customers.
The key export markets included the US, Switzerland, Australia and Japan. However, as the study stresses, “European exporters face high import tariffs in China and Thailand as well as India”, all of which are major markets with significant growth potential for European motorcycle manufacturers.
Significant mobility, time savings and environmental benefits
The study prepared by Oxford Economics also examined the additional benefits offered by motorcycles to their users, and to the environment. A scenario analysis suggests that if 5% of those who commute by car across Europe (5.3 million commuters) switched to motorcycles, the aggregate time savings would be 21.2 million days per annum — worth € 3.3 billion to these users.
Motorcycles were also found to offer substantial cost savings due to lower fuel use and operating costs. On average, the cost of commuting by motorcycle (€ 545) was nearly one-third of what it would cost to use a car (€ 1,435) across a year.
The research confirmed that motorcycles have a smaller environmental footprint than four-wheelers, with the average powered-two wheeler in the European vehicle fleet emitting about 99 g CO2/km, less than half of the 210 g CO2/km emitted by the average car (petrol and diesel). Interestingly, motorcycles up to 250 cc were found to emit on average 62 g CO2/km. About 62% of Europe’s two-wheelers fall into this category.
The economic and social importance of motorcycle leisure, sports and events
The study also examined the economic importance of motorcycle-related events, i.e. motorcycle sports, motorcycle trade fairs and events organized by OEMs.
In total, these activities contributed about € 2.1 billion to Europe’s GDP and supported about 38,400 jobs and € 1.2 billion in tax payments. A large part of that impact happened in local communities that greatly benefited from international tourists attending motorcycle-related events.
The study found that about 5 million spectators attended major motorcycle sporting events in 2019, with MotoGP attracting about 1.8 million spectators to its 12 European races in that season. Furthermore, about 2.5 million people attended motorcycle trade fairs and manufacturers' promotional events the same year.
The impact of COVID-19 on motorcycle manufacturers’ activities
An additional annex extended the analysis into 2020, gauging the impact that the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic had on the motorcycle industry. Motorcycle manufacturing activity in Europe was interrupted in a substantial way at the height of the pandemic in March - April 2020, with production falling substantially across the continent, largely linked to the impact of national lockdowns.
Amongst the major motorcycle manufacturing companies, the interruption to factory work was significant, but work in the HQ functions, R&D and trading held up relatively well. Also, motorcycle companies responded to Covid in such a way as to ensure that they are in a good position for the future, by largely maintaining the volume of work (in terms of hours) undertaken on R&D and design, and putting in place the staff protocols and infrastructure necessary to support widespread homeworking.
Motorcycle companies tended to protect active staff headcount, with hours per head temporarily cut in preference to direct layoffs.
Quotes
Stefan Pierer, President of ACEM and CEO of KTM AG, said:
“Oxford Economics’ research demonstrates that the motorcycle sector makes a valuable economic and societal contribution to Europe’s economy and mobility”.
“In spite of recent challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic or a difficult international trade environment, our sector remains strong. The motorcycle industry will continue to play a positive role in terms of job creation, economic growth and urban and leisure mobility”.
Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM, said:
“There has never been a better time to provide a snapshot of the motorcycle industry and related sectors. This study provides a detailed picture of the benefits that today’s motorcycles bring today to their users, to the people involved in the motorcycle sector, and to the economy and society at large”.
“Looking ahead, we expect mobility in Europe to undergo a profound transformation process. Motorcycle manufacturers within ACEM are committed to address those challenges, and to bring to market vehicles enabling even more efficient and more sustainable urban and recreational mobility. This is part of the forward-looking vision of the sector, to the horizon 2030 and beyond”.
Press contact
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua ACEM communications manager +32 496 52 65 17
More than 3 years after the publication of the European Commission’s proposal, and after intensive discussions between the two Institutions, the European Parliament and the Council have reached an agreement on the revision of the Motor Insurance Directive.
While the new and revised rules should better protect injured people, including domestic victims of an accident caused by a driver from another EU country, the agreement reached earlier this week will finally - and rightfully - exclude motorsports and related activities from the scope of the Directive.
ACEM welcomes the decision to recognize the specificity of motorsport activities. This was a redline for key organisations of the motorcycling world (FIM, FEMA and the FIA) which have constantly held that including “motorsports” under the scope of this piece of legislation would endanger the economic viability of this activity in many EU Member States.
The amendments agreed today should also clarify what vehicles are subject to compulsory insurance, and what the insurance coverage should be. ACEM understands that the Directive will cover, as an harmonised rule, accidents caused during the normal use of a vehicle as a means of transportation, including its use on private properties.
ACEM takes this opportunity to thank the European Parliament’s Rapporteur, Dita Charanzová, for her dedicated efforts to steer this important file during lengthy and complex discussions.
Next steps
The provisional agreement will now have to be formally approved by the European Parliament, and the Council, prior to its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
The new Directive will apply 24 months after its entry into force, leaving ample time for the Member States to implement the new rules at national level.
ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles – The Motorcycle Industry in Europe) and USMMA (United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association) join the call on European authorities and the US Administration to agree, at next week’s Summit meeting on 15th June, to remove, as soon as possible, all tariffs on unrelated sectors impacted by the steel and aluminium dispute.
In a joint transatlantic industry statement, 113 associations have reiterated their call for the permanent removal of tariffs on sectors unrelated to the ongoing transatlantic trade disputes.
ACEM welcomed the positive joint announcement on 17th May 2021 of European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo of the start of discussions to address global steel and aluminium excess capacity. In particular, ACEM welcomed the suspension of the European Union’s additional 25% tariffs on US motorcycles, which were due to come into effect on 1st June 2021.
However, ACEM recalls that the motorcycle industry remains considerably hurt by the 25% rebalancing tariffs, which remain in place while negotiations are taking place.
ACEM therefore, calls upon European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and President of the United States, Joe Biden, to take the opportunity of the EU-US Summit meeting in Brussels on 15th June, to commit at the highest level, their willingness to resolve the steel and aluminium dispute in the shortest possible timing.
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“ACEM calls upon the Transatlantic Leadership to ensure that negotiations to tackle steel overcapacity concerns be concluded without delay and not to wait 6 months, during which time hundreds of millions of Euros of unrelated sectors’ money will be spent on unwarranted tariffs, instead of on investments and essential research and development for the rebuilding and greening of both EU and US economies”, said Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General.
Press contact
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua ACEM communications manager +32 496 52 65 17
The workshop is co-organised by the International Transport Forum, the Swedish Transport Administration, VTI, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), and the motorcycle manufacturers associations (ACEM and IMMA). The workshop is a follow-up to the Third Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, held in Stockholm in February 2020, and will focus on the nine recommendations of the Academic Expert Group and their application to motorcyclists’ safety.
This event builds on the 2008 Lillehammer workshop, which was the first international event to bring together all key stakeholders and which has proven influential in setting the agenda for developing government motorcycle strategies across the world. It also builds on the 2015 ITF research report “Improving Safety for Motorcycle, Scooter and Moped Riders”, which made recommendations on a wide range of measures to improve the safety of motorcyclists.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all.
Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, the organisation works on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges.
About the ITF
The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 62 member countries. It acts as a think tank for transport policy and organises the Annual Summit of transport ministers. ITF is the only global body that covers all transport modes. The ITF is administratively integrated with the OECD, yet politically autonomous.
Contact
Véronique Feypell de la Beaumelle IRTAD Manager of the Road Safety Programme +33 1 73 31 25 25
ACEM welcomes today’s joint announcement by the EU and the US on addressing global steel and aluminium excess capacity and the decision by the EU to temporarily suspend, for six months, the doubling of tariffs on US-made motorcycles above 500cc, which were set to come into effect on 1 June 2021.
Despite this positive development, the EU’s Rebalancing Measures remain in place at 25%. This means US motorcycles still bear a 31% tariff, which has a considerable negative affect bilateral trade and on European motorcycle dealers and customers. Furthermore, the suspension of the additional 25% is a temporary measure which still threatens significant harm to the European motorcycle sector, if a resolution is not found in the next 6 months. Therefore, ACEM continues to call for the removal of motorcycles from the EU’s list of products impacted by rebalancing tariffs.
Motorcycles have no place in an unrelated trade dispute.
ACEM supports all EU and US efforts to urgently de-escalate this trade conflict, and to return to non-punitive tariff levels as soon as possible.
Press contact
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua ACEM communications manager +32 496 52 65 17
In the first three months of 2021, registrations of new motorcycles in five of the largest European markets (i.e. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK) showed an increase of 10.3% (197,856 units), compared to the same period of 2020. March’s strong results (+67.6%) managed to offset the negative trend shown in the first two months of the year (-29.8% in January and -12.8% in February).
The registration trends in the motorcycle segment vary considerably across the countries. Some as Italy (+47.3%) and France (+15.1%) registered substantial increases, while others such as the UK (-21.3%), Germany (-4.1%) and Spain (-0.5%) still lag behind 2020 figures. This is linked to the different form of lockdowns imposed across European countries in 2020, and to the fact that last year’s basis for comparison in some cases was exceptionally low.
The moped segment performed slightly better. In the six largest European moped markets (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain), moped registrations reached 56,535 units, which represents an increase of 21.6% in comparison to last year’s figures.
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Commenting on the current situation of the sector, Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, said:
“The registration figures for the first quarter of 2021 show that the sector continues to recover from the C-19 crisis, although at a different pace across Europe”.
“It would not be fully accurate to compare this year’s figures with the ones from 2020 since last year, a large number of dealerships were closed and several European economies were under lockdown”.
“If we look at 2019, arguably a more normal year, 2021 motorcycle registrations are still behind (-4.14%), whilst moped registrations show a substantial increase (+19%).
“This shows that whilst uncertainties persist for European economies, at the same time the market is reactive. The 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, is confirmed. Also, more and more consumers are opting for motorcycling when it comes to safe leisure activities, such as touring closer to home”.
Press contact
Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua ACEM communications manager +32 496 52 65 17
ACEM (Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles – The Motorcycle Industry in Europe) and USMMA (United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association) join the call on European authorities and US Administration to solve their differences without unduly impacting motorcycles.
A Coalition of 88 European and American associations has written to European Commission President von der Leyen and United States President Biden, supporting a suspension of the retaliatory tariffs in application, within EU-US ongoing trade disputes, hitting unrelated sectors.
The appeal by industry is made once again to build on the positive momentum of the suspension of tariffs imposed in connection to the World Trade Organization (WTO) disputes concerning civil aircraft subsidies for four months, hoping such agreement can be extended and built upon. The call is also made to overcome differences within the steel and aluminium trade dispute, in anticipation of the 1 June deadline and the application of further EU retaliatory measures, to avoid yet more collateral damage on unrelated sectors. Ultimately, the Coalition wishes a return to a positive, reciprocally rewarding transatlantic relationship, supporting economic growth and benefiting producers and manufacturers, their distribution partners, importers and consumers, and all associated sectors.
ACEM and USMMA join the call, as the motorcycle sector has repeatedly been unduly targeted within the EU-US trade escalation, over the last few years. US motorcycles are heavily impacted by the EU rebalancing measures devised in response to the US decision to impose a 10% tariff on European aluminium products and a 25% tariff on European steel products, as of 1 June 2018. Under Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2018/886, a list of US products, including motorcycles with a cylinder capacity above 500cc, have faced additional duties since 1 June 2018, when entering the EU.
As from 1 June 2021, European authorities are expected to double these additional customs duties, which will impose a 50% tariff on US-made motorcycles above 500cc, pursuant to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/563 of the European Commission of 31 March 2021.
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“This development confirms the urgency to suspend all additional tariffs on unrelated sectors, to avoid damaging escalations. We call upon the European Commission and the new US Administration to restart a positive transatlantic trade dialogue. We continue to strongly support a return to reason and for both parties to find a solution”, said Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General.
A brand new harmonised set of labels for electric vehicles and charging stations will start to be used throughout Europe as of 20 March this year, in line with the requirements of the EU Directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (2014/94/EU).
As well as appearing on charging stations, the labels will be placed on all newly-produced electric mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles cars, as well as on vans, trucks, buses, coaches, in a clear and visible manner. The aim is to help consumers identify the right recharging option for their battery electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles by harmonising labelling across the entire EU.
In order to assist both consumers and the operators of charging points to understand these new labels, a coalition of European vehicle manufacturers, charging infrastructure operators and the electricity industry have published informative brochures. These brochures, in Q&A format, explain the purpose of these labels, their design and in which vehicles they will appear.
The brochures are now available online at www.fuel-identifiers.eu, alongside information on the harmonised fuel labels for internal combustion engines which were introduced in 2018.
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).
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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.
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.”
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.
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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.”
![Example of motorcycle safety programme - HONDA Safety Institute [JPG]](/images/publiq/2021/HONDA.jpg){kind=link}
![Example of motorcycle safety programme - BMW [JPG]](/images/publiq/2021/bmw.jpg){kind=link}
![Example of motorcycle safety programmes - "Ready to Ride" by VSV [JPG]](/images/publiq/2021/AC_A0487.jpg){kind=link}
![Infographic - Economic importance [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Economic_importance.png){kind=link}
![Infographic - Environmental performance [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Environmental_performance.png){kind=link}
![Infographic - Motorcycle use [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Motorcycle_use.png){kind=link}
![Infographic - Motorcycle sports [PNG]](/images/publiq/2021/Infographic_-_Motorcycle_sports.png){kind=link}