Anybody who thought that powered two-wheeler sales in Italy — once Europe’s biggest market — couldn’t get much worse can think again, because they literally halved in March.
The total of registered machines over 50cc fell by 47.8 per cent in the month to 13,892 units, with scooters down by 56.3 per cent to 7574 units and motorcycles dropping by 31.9 per cent to 6318 units. The unregistered 50cc moped sector was also in free-fall, plunging by 53.8 per cent to 2202 units.
During the first quarter of 2013, the overall Italian PTW market has shrunk by 37.2 per cent to 38,179 units. Registered products have suffered a 36.3 per cent reversal at 32,009 units and mopeds are down by 41.2 per cent to 6170 units.