START OF Q2 SEES MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATIONS BACK ON TRACK, ELECTRIC GROWTH REMAINS MODEST

“After a rocky end to Q1 with March seeing a fall in registrations, Q2 has started positively with a 1.1% increase in total registrations for April in a sign that the new motorcycle market is getting back on track” says Symon Cook, Head of National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), commenting on the latest MCIA registration figures.

In April, there was a 1.1% increase in total registrations, from 9,848 to 9,960 units. Total moped and motorcycle sales have increased by 24.9% and 0.2% respectively. Year-to-date figures see total registrations slightly higher than at the same point last year, increasing from 37,870 to 37,912, a 0.1% rise.

Many motorcycle categories saw an increase in registrations in April. The ‘adventure’ and ‘road sport’ categories witnessed the most significant rises, going from 1,780 to 2,062 and from 783 to 876 units respectively, equating to increases of 15.8% and 11.9%. Other categories such as ‘touring’ and ‘naked’ models saw decreases with a -16.9% and -15.8% fall respectively.

In the current market landscape, electric registrations increased from 336 to 414 units, an increase year-on-year of 23.2% indicating that electric adoption is gradual but steadily rising.

April’s figures also reveal a decrease in 501-750cc motorbikes from 1,378 to 1,239 (-10.1%), however, 126-500cc motorcycles saw an increase of 18.8%.

Honda remains the top-selling brand in the market, with 1,976 units sold in the month of April. Triumph comes in at second with 1,016 units. Yamaha completes the top three with 960 units, whilst Suzuki completes the top 10 with 211 units.

Symon Cook concluded: “Year-to-date figures show just a modest 0.1% increase in total registrations but there are certainly encouraging signs particularly as we enter the warmer months of the year. It should also be noted that electric motorcycle registrations have also seen steady growth so far this year. NMDA dealers’ express confidence that the upcoming months will yield further successes in new registrations.”