MILAN (ITALPRESS) – The motorcycling sector supports €35.1 billion in GDP, €481.600 jobs and €20.6 billion in tax revenue in the European Union and the UK. And it contributes to urban mobility with fewer emissions: according to the study, a motorcycle averages 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre, against 250 of a car.
These are the results of the report “The Economic Importance of Motorcycles to Europe”, produced by Oxford Economics and presented today at EICMA, during the conference “MOTONOMICS: Industrial Realities and Policy Horizons”, promoted by ACEM, the European association of motorcycle manufacturers, and Confindustria ANCMA.
The meeting took place on the days reserved to the b2b of the 83 International Exhibition of the two wheels, scheduled from 3 to 8 November at Fiera Milano Rho. With 765 exhibitors, 2,242 brands from 52 countries, ten pavilions and over 300,000 square meters overall between exhibition spaces and outdoor areas, EICMA has offered an international audience and a direct observatory on industrial transformations.
After the greeting of the director of ANCMA Fabrizio Casellato, the president of ACEM and managing director of BMW Motorrad Markus Flaschha anticipated the new Vision 2035+, which will be presented at the beginning of 2027 and will have the center competitiveness. MEP Pierfrancesco Maran recalled the role of the two wheels in cities and the need to support European production.
“These numbers confirm the value of a chain that creates jobs, skills and innovation and that sees Italy among the protagonists in Europe – said Mariano Roman, president of Confindustria ANCMA -. EICMA is the world’s benchmark: the place where the motorcycling industry presents its future and compares with markets, public and institutions. Bringing this debate here means linking the economic and social value of the sector to the choices necessary to support it. The growth of registrations does not automatically result in increased production and profitability: in order to continue investing and innovating in Europe we need clear and proportionate rules, reciprocity in trade and full recognition of the two wheels in mobility policies”.
Illustrated by the secretary general of ACEM Antonio Perlot, the study is based on data 2024. Production, sale and repair of motorcycles and components support €26.7 billion of GDP and 356.700 jobs. Helmets, technical clothing and protection contribute to 5.7 billion and almost 89,000 employees, while competitions, fairs and events generate 2.7 billion and 36,000 jobs.
The impact extends beyond the enterprises of the sector: each euro of GDP generated directly supports another 2.30 in the economy, while each direct employee supports additional 1.3 jobs. Italy and Germany each contribute to 23% of the total value, ahead of France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Austria.
The estimate does not include activities such as motor tourism, driving training, insurance and delivery services, whose contribution would make the sector’s contribution even wider.
In Europe there are 42 million motorcycles and 6.4 million people use them every day to go to work, with average travel times less than a third compared to the car and an individual savings of approximately 580 euros per year.
In addition to average CO2 emissions less than half of those of a car, motorcycles require less space: 2.9 square meters of parking against 11.5, allowing to arrange about four motorcycles in the space occupied by a car. The current home-work movements on the two wheels already avoid 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year compared to the use of the car.
The study also simulates the passage to the two wheels of 5% of the commuters that today use the car: they would save every year 28 million days of travel and 2.9 billion euros of operating costs, reducing emissions of 2.6 million tons of CO2 and freeing 124 square kilometers of parking.
International trade: export in decrease and greater competitive pressure
The commercial update presented by ACEM shows a worsening in 2025: extra-exports EU decreased by 22%, to 2 billion euros, while imports increased by 12%, to 3,9 billion. The deficit has risen to 1.9 billion, almost twice as much as 2024.
Export to the United States fell by 40%, in a context of increasing US duties on European motorcycles. At the same time, motorcycle imports produced in China over 250 cc grew by 52%, at 610 million euros. The data of the first half of 2026 indicate a stabilization, without signals of recovery.
European competitiveness, international competition and regulatory framework animated the closing round table, moderated by Federico Vitale of Confindustria ANCMA, with Markus Flasch, Claudio Domenicali, managing director of Ducati, Mariano Roman, Antonio Erario of the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport and Antonio Perlot.
“The study confirms the economic and social contribution of motorcycling to Europe, but these results cannot be given to acquired – said Perlot –. We need fair and reciprocal access to markets, full recognition of the two wheels in urban mobility and predictable and proportionate rules, which allow manufacturers to continue investing in Europe.”.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
