The exceptional events of 2020 worked hard to bring a variety of markets to a virtual standstill across the past ten or so months.
However, not every sector suffered, and for the motorbike industry, 2020 can be reflected on as a fairly impressive year – but why?
The answer lies in a 12-month period of remarkably strong sales, limited drop off in the face of a global pandemic and a number of promising signs from key industry data heading into 2021. Here, we look into the numbers behind a pleasantly surprising year just gone for the motorcycle industry.
PTWs stand strong and electric registrations soar
Sales and registration numbers didn’t improve for powered two-wheelers (PTWs) in 2020, but they also weren’t much worse. According to the MCIA’s closing monthly report for 2020, total registrations for PTWs last year numbered 104,612 – a 2.6% drop off from the 107,408 sold in 2019. Electric motorbikes, meanwhile, saw a huge rise in numbers (albeit to a still rather small total), enjoying a 51.2% rise in registrations from 1,626 to 2,459 annually.
With all of 2020 considered, the PTW industry can toast to a surprisingly competitive year of sales – and wonder what could have been if not for a certain pandemic. As for electric motorbikes, the numbers may still be small, but the progress behind them isn’t, and a bright 2021 awaits for the greener side of the market.
Did the pandemic matter?
Of course, COVID-19 had an impact on bike sales and the industry as a whole, but perhaps not completely in the way the average onlooker would expect. Things did start out typically gloomy, with an 83% drop off in sales during the first true lockdown month of April, but registrations enjoyed a renaissance due to the appeal of motorbiking as the lockdown went on.
With many Brits desperate to get out of the house and enjoy some sense of freedom, new riders were attracted to the market over the summer. Those newcomers, combined with summertime promotional offers and an increased demand in the market after months of restriction, helped sales to rally through summer and leave the end of year figures only 6.9% down on 2019.
What does 2021 hold?
Those in the motorcycle industry and the hobbyists around it can head in 2021 hopeful of a good year. For the PTW market, the resilient sales numbers of 2020 will offer enthusiasm for a much improved 2021, though that could be dependent on how far the legacy of the pandemic stretches into the new year.
For the still burgeoning electric market, the seemingly exponential rise in sales will no doubt continue, while the wider industry is set to carry on its transition into the mainstream thanks to increased manufacturer interest and government backing. Electric bikes are also set to enjoy increased affordability in the market because of this, helping their initial price tag to become as appealing as their cheaper running and insurance costs for the average buyer.
While very few businesses are going to look back on 2020 with fond memories, the motorbike industry can take a quiet satisfaction from its performance over an incredibly turbulent 12 months. Even if pandemic matters don’t clear up quickly in 2021, the industry can be confident of another solid year thanks to the evidence of the year just passed.
