Motorcycle industry in Germany
Germany is well-known as a country with a well-established automotive industry, with several prominent brands headquartered and producing in the country for worldwide distribution. While motorcycles only make up a fraction of transport manufacturing in Germany, it is a growing industry with a turnover of 3.3 billion euros in 2022. One of the leading companies producing motorcycles in Germany is BMW. The company operates a plant in Berlin-Spandau, which manufactures up to 900 motorcycles daily.
BMW not only manufactures some of its motorcycles in Germany but is also the leading brand in motorcycle sales in the country. BMW's sales are around eight percent higher than those of Honda, its closest competitor in the German market. Both manufacturers were able to benefit from heightened interest in motorcycles in 2020 , as the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged many people to seek alternatives to shared transportation. Sales dropped off again in the following again before rising to just below 2020 figures by 2023.
This new license class substantially increased interest in light motorcycles and light scooters, and, between 2019 and 2020, light motorcycle sales rose by over 80 percent. Motorcycles over 125cc also experienced a spike in 2020; however, motorcycle sales in this segment only grew by around 18 percent between 2019 and 2020 and subsequently fell back to lower levels. Meanwhile, registration of light motorcycles remained more than two-thirds above pre-pandemic levels between 2021 and 2023.
BMW not only manufactures some of its motorcycles in Germany but is also the leading brand in motorcycle sales in the country. BMW's sales are around eight percent higher than those of Honda, its closest competitor in the German market. Both manufacturers were able to benefit from heightened interest in motorcycles in 2020 , as the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged many people to seek alternatives to shared transportation. Sales dropped off again in the following again before rising to just below 2020 figures by 2023.
New driving license category is popularizing light motorcycles and light scooters
The COVID-19 pandemic was not the only significant factor impacting motorcycle sales in Germany in recent years. At the beginning of2020, a new motorcycle license category called B196 was introduced. It provides drivers in Germany—who hold a class B driving license for passenger cars—with a quicker path to a motorcycle license, which is valid for motorcycles and scooters with an engine of no more than 125cc. This new category for light motorcycles has a training and age requirement but no practical or theoretical test component. The new license class is currently only valid in Germany and has not been extended to be valid in other EU member states.This new license class substantially increased interest in light motorcycles and light scooters, and, between 2019 and 2020, light motorcycle sales rose by over 80 percent. Motorcycles over 125cc also experienced a spike in 2020; however, motorcycle sales in this segment only grew by around 18 percent between 2019 and 2020 and subsequently fell back to lower levels. Meanwhile, registration of light motorcycles remained more than two-thirds above pre-pandemic levels between 2021 and 2023.
