Registrations of motorcycles and mopeds in the EU increased by 9.1% in 2016 compared with the previous year, according to the latest data from the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM). 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 powered two and three wheelers (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%).
In 2016 European registrations of motorcycles grew by 13.3% compared with 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%).
Registrations of mopeds 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.
Most motorcycles, mopeds and quadricycles registered in Europe in 2016 were under 125cc (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
Registrations of electric vehicles in the EU reached 22,402 units. Most were mopeds (11,314 units, 50.5% of the total) and electric motorcycles (3513 vehicles, 15.7% of the total). Registrations of electric quadricycles accounted for 31.9% of total European registrations of electric vehicles (7148 units).
The largest markets for electrically-propelled vehicles in Europe were France (7396 units), the Netherlands (5203 units), Italy (2385 units), Spain (1604 units) and Germany (1501 units). In 2016 electric vehicles represented about 1.6% of all registrations of L-category vehicles in the European Union.
ACEM secretary general Antonio Perlot said: “2016 has been a very positive year for the industry, with registrations increasing in most European countries, particularly in the largest European markets, namely France (253,067 units), Italy (219,865 units), Germany (174,264 units), Spain (172,176 units) and the UK (128,637 units)”.
“Strong demand across Europe is a testament to the inherent advantages of PTWs – reduced purchasing and running costs, ease of parking, and reduced 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.”