Motorcycle sales have increased in Europe as well.

Motorcycle Sales Have Increased in Europe as Well

Motorcycle enthusiasts have not only accelerated in Serbia but have also significantly increased their motorcycle purchases in 2024 compared to the previous year, as recently presented at the Press Conference of the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers.

Market growth and increased motorcycle sales have also been recorded in the five key, largest markets in Europe. Data provided by the Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) to the Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers clearly shows that, just like in Serbia, more and more people in Europe are choosing to buy two-wheelers—both for practical reasons, such as faster navigation through congested city streets, and as a lifestyle choice.

ACEM analyzed five markets: Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The total number of motorcycles sold in these major motorcycling markets reached 1,155,640 units in 2024. Compared to 2023, this represents a growth of approximately 10.1% (from 1,049,898 units).

The highest annual growth was recorded in Germany, where 248,618 units were sold, representing an increase of 16.3%.

In Spain, the growth was slightly lower—14.2% year-over-year—but still, 229,685 new motorcycles hit the country’s roads. The French are also increasingly purchasing motorcycles, with sales reaching 214,049 units in 2024, marking a 3.5% increase compared to 2023. Despite the common belief that the British climate is not very favorable for motorcycle enthusiasts, the UK recorded 110,994 motorcycle deliveries, reflecting a solid 2.7% increase from the previous year.

Italy remains the largest motorcycle market in Europe. Buyers in this country purchased an impressive 352,924 motorcycles. The annual sales growth in 2024 reached 10.0%.

The number of newly registered mopeds in 2024 amounted to 180,591 units across the six largest European markets (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain) analyzed by ACEM. This represents a 6.5% year-over-year decline, as 193,145 mopeds were sold in these six countries in 2023.

The only significant growth was recorded in Italy, where buyers purchased 22,301 mopeds, boosting the market by 19% compared to the previous year.

In Belgium, 30,716 mopeds were registered for the first time in 2024, but even there, sales saw a slight decline of 0.2%. In Germany, 14,790 mopeds were sold last year, reflecting a market decline of 16.1% year-over-year. The French purchased 65,978 mopeds, a drop of 12.5%. Unlike motorcycles, Spaniards are far less fond of mopeds, with only 14,574 new mopeds registered in 2024. The market decline here was also in double digits—12.0%. The Netherlands experienced a slightly smaller market decline of 5.3%, with 32,232 mopeds sold.

"The strong growth in motorcycle registrations across Europe's largest markets in 2024 demonstrates the increasing appeal of motorcycles for urban mobility and leisure. However, it should be acknowledged that a consistent part of this growth is also linked to the introduction of the Euro 5+ standard, which takes effect on January 1, 2025. This could result in a market correction in the first half of this year. The Euro 5+ standard builds upon the previous Euro 5 but includes additional durability requirements, reinforcing L-category vehicles as a sustainable and attractive choice for European citizens, as well as a solution for policymakers aiming to reduce traffic congestion and make cities more livable," said Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM.

Source: ACEM
Photo: Freepik