Europe

Europe’s Electric Motorcycle Market Surges

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Press Release: IDTechEx from https://www.scoop.co.nz IDTechEx expects electric motorcycle sales in Europe to grow at least 50% year-on-year in 2020, building on the momentum of recent years. This is driven by continued policy support from governments alongside start-ups and incumbent OEMs entering the market with new model releases, finds the recent report from IDTechEx. Growth is also being boosted by consumer awareness and acceptance in Europe of the benefits of electric motorcycles. Besides the low cost of ownership, electric motorcycles improve the riding experience, taking away the noise, fumes, vibration, shifting, and clutching from the user experience, alongside the environmental benefits of low emissions. The result has been strong growth on par with the electric car market since 2017. How are electric motorcycles different? Electric motorcycles are unique, serious machines with power and energy requirements orders of magnitude higher than other common types of electric two-wheelers such as electric scooters, both the standing kind – think Lime – and the sitting kind – think Vespa. Indeed, electric motorcycles typically utilize electric motors beyond 40kWp, which is more comparable to those found in electric cars than electric scooters, in a much more restricted space. This high-power need, coupled with the limited space on the motorcycle, means manufacturers rarely use off-the-shelf parts and design motors in-house from scratch. The situation is the same for the battery packs, which actually take up the most space in boxy designs unconventional for the moto industry (even when utilizing high-energy automotive-grade Li-ion cells). In contrast, low energy, cheap LFP packs sourced from China can be used for the low energy needs of electric scooters. Zero Motorcycles, the global market leader for electric motorcycles based out of California, USA, is a good example. It uses locally sourced NMC pouch cells in a custom pack and has an […]

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Automated Vehicle Update European Style

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Will Self-Driving Cars Push Motorcycles Off The Road? Will there be a place on the road for motorcycles in a world with self-driving cars? FEMA’s Dolf Willigers takes a closer look at the future of our beloved bikes. The question that concerns many motorcyclists is if there will be a place for them in a world with automatic and connected driving cars and other vehicles. Automated driving motorcycles is something that nobody seriously wants to consider. And be assured, despite some prototypes and views into the future, no motorcycle manufacturer has plans in this direction. But still, is there a future for us in an automated and connected environment? Click Here to read this Article on Bikernet. Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Europe FEMA news – Mandatory motorcycle inspections

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by Dolf Willigers from https://www.femamotorcycling.eu/motorcycle-inspections/ ‘Mandatory motorcycle inspections do not improve road safety’ There is no evidence that the technical state of motorcycles plays a significant role in accidents, but still some members of the European parliament want to periodically inspect every bike in Europe, thinking it will improve road safety. In 2014 the Periodic Roadworthiness Tests Directive (2014/45/EU) came into force. This directive regulates the technical inspection of cars and motorcycles. As a result of the hard fight that FEMA and some of its member organizations, supported by some MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) had in 2012 and 2013, motorcycles were excluded until 2022. In 2014 the European Parliament by a large majority voted in favour of the compromise proposal from the European Commission on a European regulation for the periodic technical inspection (PTI) of motor vehicles. This compromise included that the PTI for motorcycles was postponed until 2022. If a member state managed to find another solution to enhance the road safety for motorcyclists and reported this to the European Commission before 20 May 2017, this country would be excluded from Mandatory Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI). Three countries managed to do so: Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands. Some other countries have or will have PTI for motorcycles, but not (yet) for mopeds. On 25 January 2021 the Transport Committee of the European Parliament discussed a report about the implementation on the road safety aspects of the Roadworthiness Package, of which the Periodic Roadworthiness Tests Directive is part. Many MEPs asked for mandatory periodic technical inspection for all powered two- and three-wheelers, although we also heard doubt about the effectivity of this measure. During the presentation of the report by rapporteur Benoît Lutgen, he himself expressed his doubts if a mandatory periodic technical inspection would be the best

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Royal Enfield is coming after Harley-Davidson

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In its last financial year before the pandemic struck, Enfield company sold about 824,000 bikes globally. Harley, by contrast, shipped about 218,000. Last year Enfield company doubled the size of one of its three factories, bringing overall production capacity to 1.2 million motorcycles a year. To build buzz Enfield company has tried marketing to American customizers and flat-track competitors, and in 2018 it put Cayla Rivas, a teenage motorcycle racer, on a souped-up Continental in pursuit of a speed record for its bike class—and compelling footage for YouTube. (She hit 157 mph on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats.) Although it may sound counterintuitive, “the U.S. and Europe are very important” to making Enfield the aspirational bike of choice for the developing world, he says. Lal wants to be as big a player in the West as possible, but he argues that Royal Enfield doesn’t necessarily have to sell that many bikes in developed countries for the strategy to be considered a success. What it does need to do is move enough to give them a patina of cool at home and in other emerging markets, such as Southeast Asia. Read the full article at Bloomberg. Click Here.

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Jawa Motorcycles to launch in Europe – Rival Royal Enfield

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by Abhinand Venugopal from https://www.rushlane.com Jawa Motorcycles’ European exports will start with Jawa 300 aka Jawa Classic Classic Legends, owned by Mahindra & Mahindra group, brought down Jawa Motorcycles to the Indian market back in November 2018. As a first, two motorcycles were launched as direct rivals to Royal Enfield’s ‘350’ range: Jawa 42 and ‘Jawa’ (a.k.a. ‘Jawa Classic’ or ‘300’). Prices for the initial BS4 single-channel ABS models stood at Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.64 lakh, respectively. Either motorcycle was recently updated to BS6 specifications and prices increased to Rs 1.74 lakh and 1.83 lakh, respectively, for their dual-channel ABS variants. Meanwhile, Jawa Perak bobber was launched towards 2019 end as the Czech-origin brand’s first BS6 product, at a price tag of Rs 1.95 lakh. All prices mentioned here are ex-showroom. Jawa Motorcycles India plans to commence its European export operations soon with Jawa Classic as a start. The motorcycle has been already homologated for European roads. Compared to its original Indian specifications, Euro-spec Jawa 300 has received some minor updates to comply with local motor vehicle norms. Visually, there are no changes and Jawa Motorcycles is expected to introduce the same colour choices available in India. There is a good demand for classic motorcycles in Europe and the market has already proved to be a success for modern classics. For the same reason, major names in industry have introduced a range of interesting products in this genre. Honda Motorcycle could even bring back iconic CB series in the not-too-distant future. Coming back to Jawa Motorcycles, both its entry-level products are powered by a 293cc liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder motor derived from Mahindra Mojo’s power plant. The engine, in its latest BS6 format, makes 27bhp and 28Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed transmission. Jawa Perak gets a

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Yamaha Ténéré 700 Dethrones BMW GS In Germany

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by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com Since Yamaha released the T7 concept in late 2016, the motorcycling world has been pining for the Ténéré 700. From unveiling the prototype at EICMA 2017 to the announcement of the production model at last year’s EICMA show, Team Blue continued to generate hype for the model at each turn. All the groundwork Yamaha laid seems to be paying off as the newcomer is already supplanting the long-established king of adventure—the BMW GS 1250—in its homeland of Germany. Though the Ténéré 700 isn’t for sale in the States until summer 2020, the mid-displacement adventure bike has been available in the European market since mid-2019. With European pre-orders opening in March of this year and initial deliveries following close behind in July, Ténéré fans backed the model right out of the gate. By fall, the bike was outpunching the competition in Germany with 310 units sold in the month of October alone. Outselling BMW’s battleship (242 units) and Honda’s Africa Twin (181 units) is a great start for the smaller Ténéré. In a country dominated by ADV and naked bikes, securing a foothold will be important for the shelf life of the mid-sized motorcycle. Rounding out Germany’s top five in October, Kawasaki’s Z900 comes in fourth with 125 bikes sold while the ever-popular Yamaha MT-07 brings up the rear at 116 units. While this is a small victory for Yamaha, only time will tell if the mighty middleweight can go round for round with BMW’s heavyweight champ. From January to October 2019, BMW has sold 9,100 GS 1250s in Deutschland. That staggering number is only followed the second-best seller in the country: Yamaha’s MT-07 at 3,569 units. Touting the same universally-loved CP2 parallel twin from the MT-07, the Ténéré 700 is uniquely positioned between the two

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Mahindra buys 100 percent stake in Peugeot Motorcycles

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by Nabanita Singha Roy from https://www.rushlane.com The brand will launch 7 products in the next two years. Mahindra Two Wheelers acquired 51% equity stake in Peugeot Motorcycles in 2015 in a bid to establish its presence in the European scooter market. In addition to investing 13 million pounds (Rs 109 crores) in purchasing the shares owned by the French automaker Groupe PSA, the Indian conglomerate invested a further 15 million pounds to empower Peugeot’s product development. Mahindra Two Wheelers Europe has announced that it will acquire complete ownership of PMTC for an undisclosed amount. Since the initial investment, Peugeot Motorcycles has been showing positive momentum. The brand’s Kisbee 50 cc moped emerged as the best selling model in its segment in Europe while the flagship Metropolis three-wheeled scooter is enjoying increasing demand in both its home market and in China. The newly launched Peugeot Urban GT maxi-scooter is also doing well in its target markets. By acquiring 100% stake in the French scooter brand, Mahindra is hoping to drive further growth in Europe and select Asian markets. The company has also announced that Peugeot will introduce seven new products by 2021. As a part of license arrangement with PMTC’s erstwhile parent company, Mahindra will continue to use the Peugeot branding on scooters. The Peugeot design team will continue to be involved in designing of the two wheelers. With European countries looking at ways to decongest the city centers, more and more urban commuters are expected to switch to two wheelers. Fresh investment in Peugeot Motorcycles at this point of time is expected to help the brand increase its market share in Europe and expand into new markets. Having complete control on the operations would help Mahindra Two Wheelers take strategic decisions without any opposition. For example, the company could decide

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Harley-Davidson beats forecasts as international sales rebound

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by Rachit Vats, Ankit Ajmera from https://www.reuters.com (Reuters) – Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG.N) beat expectations for profit on Tuesday and stuck to its full-year shipment forecast, allaying fears of another major hit from European import tariffs and a further slump in sales in its main U.S. market. Shares of the company rose as much as 8.8% to $40.36, as it posted the first rise in international sales in a year during the third quarter and a 3.6% dip in U.S. retail motorcycle sales – the smallest decline in nearly three years. Profits continued to sink – by 24% – but the results offered some hope that one of the biggest names in motorcycles was finally beginning to arrest a slide in global sales that it has been fighting for years. Sales in the world’s biggest motorcycle markets in Asia, which Harley has targeted with smaller bikes that go against its traditional profile, rose 8.7% in the quarter and are up about 1.6% this year overall. The company plans to source half of its revenue from overseas by 2027 and international retail sales rose 2.7% to 23,619 motorcycle in the quarter. While worldwide shipments fell 5.8% to 45,837 motorcycles, they topped analysts’ estimates by over 1,000 motorcycles, and the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company stuck to its 2019 shipment target of 212,000 to 217,000 bikes. “As we look to the remainder of 2019, we are encouraged by the momentum of retail sales trends through the first nine months of this year but also recognize substantial headwinds that we continue to face,” Chief Financial Officer John Olin said. The company is also cutting spending and said it now expects 2019 capital expenses of $205 million to $225 million, about $20 million less than its previous estimates. Excluding items, the company earned 70 cents per share,

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The German Autobahn is under threat

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By Cameron Kirby from https://www.whichcar.com.au The last bastion of high-speed driving freedom could soon be outlawed There is a new plan to kill the Autobahn as we know and love it. If a minority party in Germany’s federal parliament has its way, a new national 130km/h limit could replace the unrestricted sections of the Autobahn. Currently there are 5353km of Autobahn which have the ‘unrestricted’ advisory speed limit. The Alliance90/The Greens political party, often referred to simply as The Greens, is behind the move, and is pushing the lowering of limits as part of a package of new measures intended to reduce emissions. “A speed limit would be a commandment of reason for an enlightened society in the 21st century,” said Green politician Cem Özdemir. It’s claimed that enforcing a 130km/h limit would lower Germany’s carbon dioxide emissions by between one and three million tonnes per year. In 2018, Germany produced 725.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Lowering speed limits to 130km/h on the autobahn is supported by the German police union, with the head of the federal trade union Michael Mertens stating: “For us, a speed limit for transport policy reasons is urgently needed”. A vote on the proposition will be held in Germany’s national parliament, the Bundestag, on October 13. The federal parliament has 709 seats, with the joint Union alliance, made up of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), and Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP), holding a majority with 398 members. The Greens hold 67 of the 311 seats in opposition. The Union has previously defended the unrestricted speed limits on the Autobahn, including when they were attacked earlier this year. In January a leaked report from a government-appointed committee called the National Platform on the Future of Mobility

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E-scooter manufacturers are rushing into Germany

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European scooter companies such as Circ, Tier, Voi are vying with international players such as US-based Lime and Bird in the world’s fourth largest economy. by Avik Das from TNN BERLIN: A gamut of electric scooter companies has flooded the streets of Germany, specially Berlin, after the federal government opened up the segment in June in an attempt to reduce congestion and carbon footprint. European scooter companies such as Circ, Tier, Voi are vying with international players such as US-based Lime and Bird in the world’s fourth largest economy, where the car still remains the preferred mode of commute in spite of a strong public transport system. Dutch company Dott, which recently raised 30 million euros in its Series A round, is also looking to enter Germany. Berlin-based Tier, which started operations last year in Vienna, has got a fleet of 20,000 scooters, of which 1,000 are in the German capital. “We are starting in one city every week and have already completed 5 million rides with 1 million in Berlin in just 30 days,” said Tier cofounder Julian Blessin. Tier has till date raised about 33 million euros. Most major European countries, barring the United Kingdom, have already allowed these 10 kg vehicles to ply and companies and experts say Germany has the potential to be one of the largest markets after France because of the number of cities. Urban consumers, who are already familiar with cab hailing companies like Uber, are attracted to electric scooters as they are fun, provide a new experience and help them avoid traffic jams. The result: investors are opening up their purse strings. Swedish company Voi has raised 75 million euros and Berlin-based Circ 55 million euros. These companies need more money to compete with those like Lime, which has raised nearly $800

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