Motorcycle market getting worse, -23,2% in July

Months pass and the situation for the two-wheeler market it becomes more and more black and dramatic. In the month of July just ended, 29.591 registrations of two-wheeled vehicles were recorded, equal to 23,2% decrease compared to July last year. A worrying fact that justifies the drastic decisions (cuts, layoffs, production transfers) implemented in recent periods by various motorcycle manufacturers such as Yamaha e Suzuki. While scooters recorded a -26%, motorcycles fared slightly better with "only" -15,8%. Taking stock of the first seven months of the year, the difference compared to 2010 is 16,9 percent less.

Decreasing scooter of any engine capacity, while registrations of maxi-scooters over 35cc increased by over 500%. Between motorcycle with a positive sign there are only maxi displacements over 1000cc, while all other displacements are decreasing with the exception of motorbikes from 300 to 500cc which show an increase of over 10 percentage points. As regards the various segments, naked (-15,7%), road enduros (-3,1%), customs (-0,9%) and sports cars (-27,2%) are decreasing, while with a positive sign for touring motorbikes (+9,6%).

Corrado Capelli, President of Confindustria ANCMA (National Association of Cycle and Motorcycle Accessories), comments on the data as follows: “This year's negative approach, which sees a reduction in the market to levels reached at the end of the '90s, has not changed. However, to recover lost ground, manufacturers' efforts to develop innovative motorcycles and scooters in terms of both safety and environmental compatibility are not enough; we need to stop the growing fiscal pressure that affects management costs through excise duties on fuel, increases in insurance premiums, taxes on registrations and motorway tolls.

All elements that penalize the use of vehicles and discourage potential customers. Despite this drain on resources, very little is returned in terms of improving infrastructure, availability of parking and dedicated services. In these conditions the market risks being strangled and the result of 60-70 thousand fewer two-wheeled vehicles, on an annual basis, means a loss for the treasury of approximately 2 million euros in VAT alone. We hope that the entire individual transport sector, both cars and motorbikes, will be able to make its voice heard if we really want to reverse the trend and contribute to the recovery of the entire production chain".