The UK might have left, but the European Union continues as the ruling factor for bike makers and importers. So relationships with the EU are the headline on a release from the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM).
The association has a new leadership team, a collective of industry chiefs, headed up by re-elected president Michele Colaninno (CEO Piaggio Group) as president for a two-year stint from July. There are also three new vice-presidents: Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM, Markus Flasch, head of BMW Motorrad, and Vito Cicchetti, president of Honda Motor Europe.
According to ACEM, this team will “steer the voice of the motorcycle industry coinciding with the start of the new political mandate at the European Parliament and the newly appointed European Commission”.
Michele Colaninno said: “Market and society are changing rapidly, and mobility is evolving. This is a challenge for the industry and an opportunity we do not want to miss.
“Geopolitics will make 2024 crucial in terms of political and business stability: elections in Europe, the US and India are marking the route for the next decades. Transport and mobility must stay at the core as facilitators to achieve prosperity and quality of life. Scooters and motorcycles offer different solutions to meet the new needs of society in urban and rural areas. From the motorcycle sector, we are ready to talk with the European, national and local institutions in the interest of customers and citizens”.