German Motorcycles Market started the 2025 with an awful trend. In June sales have been finally positive (+4.1% y.o.y.) with first half sales at 103.657 (-21.5%), a really sharp decline. Honda, BMW and Piaggio are on the podium.
Economic Outlook
After slightly contracting for two years in a row, German economic activity is expected to broadly stagnate in 2025. Trade tensions are set to significantly weigh on exports, though private consumption is projected to expand slightly in 2025, boosted by increases in purchasing power and lower interest rates. Investment is expected to stagnate this year, inhibited by tighter financing conditions and weaker economic sentiment – both related to the elevated uncertainty.
In 2026, growth is projected to rebound to 1.1%, as domestic demand strengthens, driven by continued consumption growth and a gradual recovery in investment. The government deficit is set to remain elevated, and the government debt ratio is expected to increase to 64.7% of GDP in 2026
Motorcycles Market Data and Trend
During the last four years, the 2-wheeler market in Germany has been stable, keeping the level hit in the 2020, when covid emergency pushed up the market at over 230.000 annual sales.
Indeed, a weak economy and low consumption rates, with high inflation are not supporting demand for new motorcycles. And considering that the expected push up created by electric vehicles is vanishing after an early start, the market is having difficulties to grow up.
And so it was during the first ten months of the 2024 as the market was declining, reaching 205.302 sales (-3.0%).
However, in November and December dealers and OEMs have been forced to self register a huge bulk of stock and the final year was apparently shocking, with sales at 252.724 (+12.6%).
But these 30K vehicles have penalized heavily the first quarter 2025 performance with first quarter sales at 39.055 (-31.8%) the worst performance globally in this period of time.
During the second quarter the trend improved and in April and May the market decline narrowed however remaining deep respectively with lost of 19.9% and 15.3%. In June sales have been finally positive (+4.1% y.o.y.) with first half sales at 103.657 (-21.5%), a really sharp decline.
The only positive note arrives from the electric segment, in strong recovery (+64.0%), following a couple of years of decline.
Performance of Leading Manufacturers
Looking at top manufacturer’s performance, almost all of them are reporting deep lost.
Honda is confirming the previous year leadership with sales down 4.9%.
In second place BMW’s lost were deeper (-20.2%), while Piaggio was a bit better (-19.9%).
In 4th place Kawasaki (-4.6%) ahead of Yamaha (-22.6%), Peugeot (-18.1%) and Aprilia (-31.2%).
