Euro 5+ standard “slowed down” two-wheelers

Euro 5+ Standard “Slowed Down” Two-Wheelers

After last year’s boom (and the beginning of this year) in motorcycle and moped sales on the European market, analysts pointed out — and it has now been confirmed — that buyers rushed to purchase two-wheelers before the Euro 5+ standard for motorcycles took effect (beginning in 2025).

Forecasts made at the time — predicting that, due to the new regulation, growth would slow down and even decline — have come true. This is confirmed by new motorcycle and moped registration data in Europe, provided to the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers by ACEM (European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers).

Registrations of new motorcycles in the five largest European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) reached 823,786 units during the first nine months of 2025 — a 7.2% decrease compared to the same period in 2024 (887,451 units).
The number of registrations increased only in Spain, where 183,014 motorcycles were sold (+11.1% year-over-year). In Italy, 282,407 motorcycles were sold, representing a 1.1% decline. In the UK, 73,343 two-wheelers were sold, down 4.0%.
A double-digit drop hit France, with 144,888 new registrations, a decline of 12.4%, while Germany recorded the most severe downturn — 140,134 motorcycles sold, down 24.4% compared to the previous year.

Moped registrations reached a total of 110,641 units across six European markets monitored by ACEM (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain) — a 16.4% decrease compared to the same period last year (132,303 units).
Germany was the only market showing slight growth, with 12,772 mopeds (+1.3%).
In Spain, 9,494 mopeds were sold (-3.4% year-over-year), while Belgium experienced a sharp decline to 20,123 units (-10.1%).
The Netherlands registered 19,386 mopeds, down 19.1%, and France recorded 37,874 units, a 21.8% drop.
The steepest decline was seen in Italy, where only 10,992 mopeds were sold — a 27.3% decrease, nearly one-third of the market.

"Data for the first nine months of 2025 confirm that the surge in registrations driven by the transition to Euro 5+ earlier this year is now gradually being absorbed. What we’re witnessing is a market adjustment following strong preregistration activity ahead of the new regulatory phase,”
said Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM.
“As we enter the final quarter and approach major industry events such as EICMA and INTERMOT, manufacturers are preparing to showcase their latest innovations. These trade shows will highlight how the market is evolving ahead of the 2026 season.”

Source: ACEM
Photo: AI