Start of the season - spring has sprung in the motorcycle and scooter trade. In the first two months of 2014, the market grew by 47.8% compared to the same period last year thanks to the warm weather. In the March issue of the trade magazine "bike und business", which will be published on March 14, the major manufacturers and importers of BMW, Harley, Honda & Co. look to the future and talk about their sales expectations.



Numerous new models are fueling sales fantasies. The new 48 hp driving license category is booming. Car license holders who passed their test before April 1, 1980 are allowed to drive these machines. The result of this European driving license reform and the highly attractive range of models on offer is a whopping 58.7 percent increase. In a year-on-year comparison between 2012 (old license category up to 34 hp) and 2013 (new license category up to 48 hp from 19 January), this market segment grew by 4,710 vehicles. Another positive trend is the significant increase of 30.8 percent in new registrations of light motorcycles (125 cm³).



This positive development is confirmed by the dealers from Germany and Switzerland surveyed by "bike und business". The signs are good that the motorcycle industry will continue to grow in 2014 for the fourth year in a row.



You can order a free press copy of the current issue of "bike und business" with the seven-page article on the industry's sales expectations and the original voices of the dealers from: heidelinde.gutowski@vogel.de.



"bike und business" is a monthly trade magazine for the motorized two-wheeler industry in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The business magazine with a training section provides information for the motorcycle trade and service, manufacturers/importers, the accessories industry and associations. "bike und business" is the official organ of the Bundes-innungsverbandes Deutsches Zweiradmechaniker-Handwerk (BIV) and publishes the technical bulletins that companies need for the statutory motorcycle emissions test (AUK). Daily news from the entire motorcycle industry is available at www.bikeundbusiness.de and in the weekly newsletter. The parent company Vogel Business Media is one of the leading German specialist information providers with 100+ trade journals, 100+ web portals, 100+ business events as well as numerous mobile offerings and international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. The company celebrated its 120th birthday in 2011.