During the first nine months of 2023, the European motorcycle market saw a substantial increase in sales. A recent report by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) states that from January to September 2023, a total of 873,985 new motorcycles were registered in the main markets of the old continent.

For reference, 2022, which was also a strong year for the European market, saw 781,839 new motorcycle registrations from January to September. For 2023, that figure grew by an impressive 11.8%, with 873,985 new motorcycle registrations in the same period.

It should be noted that Italy appears to be the strongest market for two-wheelers, as it recorded the highest growth of 19.4%, registering a total of 271,552 new two-wheelers. Spain comes in second with 154,019, registering an increase of 13.4%. In third place, Germany recorded growth of 9.6% thanks to 190,490 new registrations. France took third place with an increase of 8.7%, with 168,118 units registered. Meanwhile, the UK recorded stable sales figures, with 89,806 registrations, representing a decline of 0.4%.

While motorcycles have seen a substantial increase in sales figures, the same unfortunately cannot be said for mopeds. From January to September 2023, only 155,098 mopeds were registered, a drop of 25% compared to 206,927 last year. For reference, the ACEM report only includes France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain. Mopeds occupy a rather obscure space in the two-wheel world, as their categorization varies from region to region. In Europe, they are generally considered L1eB and L2e for two- and three-wheeled vehicles, respectively. However, some regions also include L1e-A vehicles (certain e-bikes) as mopeds.

In the ACEM report, Secretary General Antonio Perlot said that there has been sustained enthusiasm for two wheels, both for leisure and daily commuting. “The strong growth of the European market in the first nine months highlights consumers’ sustained long-term interest in two-wheeled vehicles, both for daily commuting and leisure. The first figures for October confirm the positive trend for motorcycles, with moped volumes partially recovering.” Indeed, after EICMA 2023, the motorcycle market is clearly booming, with more and more new models expected to enter the scene – both electric and internal combustion – for the 2024 model year.

Finally, it’s important to note that while the ACEM report paints a good picture of the European motorcycle industry, it doesn’t cover all the brands occupying the two-wheeled space. ACEM members include 18 manufacturers such as BMW, Ducati, KTM, MV Agusta, Piaggio and Triumph, as well as the big four Japanese brands. It’s worth noting that the new players – particularly those from China – are not represented in this report, so the sales figures are probably much higher than the 873,985 new registrations mentioned above.

O conteúdo The European motorcycle market is set for solid growth in 2023 aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.