Motorcycle sector supports 481,600 jobs in Europe
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The motorcycle sector contributed €35.1 billion to GDP in the European Union and the United Kingdom in 2024 and supported nearly half a million jobs. Alongside manufacturing, sales and repairs, protective equipment and motorsport events account for a substantial share of that contribution. Meanwhile, 2025 trade data paint a more challenging picture for European manufacturers: exports fell and imports rose.
Economic impact extends far beyond the factory gates
The Oxford Economics study “The Economic Importance of Motorcycles to Europe”, as reported by ANESDOR, assesses the motorcycle sector’s economic footprint in the European Union and the United Kingdom. In addition to its contribution to GDP and employment, the sector generated €20.6 billion in tax revenue in 2024.
The manufacture, sale and repair of motorcycles and their components accounted for the bulk of the impact: €26.7 billion in GDP and 356,700 jobs. Helmets, riding clothing and other protective equipment added €5.7 billion and nearly 89,000 jobs. Races, trade shows and brand events contributed a further €2.7 billion and 36,000 jobs.
Of the total, 208,900 jobs are within the sector itself, while its activities support the remainder elsewhere in the economy. The sector’s direct GDP contribution reached €10.6 billion. According to the study’s calculations, every euro generated directly in the sector supports the generation of a further €2.30 in the rest of the economy, and every job supports another 1.3 jobs in other industries.
Suppliers account for 46% of the economic impact of manufacturing, sales and repairs. This is therefore not just about the fortunes of motorcycle factories: demand from the sector reaches deep into the supply chain.
Economic impact in the EU and the United Kingdom in 2024: €35.1 billion in GDP, 481,600 jobs supported and €20.6 billion in tax revenue.
Manufacturing, sales and repairs, including components: €26.7 billion in GDP and 356,700 jobs.
EU external trade in motorcycles and components in 2025: exports of approximately €2 billion, imports of €3.9 billion and a deficit of €1.9 billion.
There are 42 million motorcycles on Europe’s roads; 6.4 million people use a motorcycle to commute to work every day.
Parking space required: 2.9 m² for a motorcycle and 11.5 m² for a car.
Italy and Germany lead as trade pressures mount
Italy and Germany each account for 23% of the sector’s total economic contribution. They are followed by France with 13%, the United Kingdom with 9%, Spain with 7% and Austria with 5%.
In 2024, approximately half of the European Union’s motorcycle and component production was exported, compared with 43% in 2019. Exports were worth €2.5 billion, while imports totalled €3.5 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of approximately €1 billion. The largest export market was the US, which received goods worth €761 million.
The 2025 trade review from ACEM, the European motorcycle manufacturers’ association, shows a deterioration: exports fell by 22% to approximately €2 billion, while imports rose by 12% to €3.9 billion. The deficit therefore almost doubled to €1.9 billion.
These figures distinguish two important issues: the motorcycle sector’s large economic footprint in Europe is not the same as a strong export position for European manufacturers. The growing gap between imports and exports brings that distinction into sharp focus.
Minutes and square metres matter in cities
According to the study, there are 42 million motorcycles on Europe’s roads, accounting for 11% of the motor vehicle fleet. Every day, 6.4 million people ride a motorcycle to work. Their commutes take a third less time than travelling by car, and the study estimates annual savings of approximately €580 per rider.
The difference is even more striking when it comes to parking: a motorcycle requires 2.9 m², compared with 11.5 m² for a car. Approximately four motorcycles can therefore fit in one car parking space. According to the study’s calculations, current motorcycle commuters avoid around 2.4 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions a year compared with travelling by car.
The study also modelled a scenario in which 5% of car commuters switched to motorcycles. Under this scenario, commuters would collectively save 28 million days of travel time a year, valued at €8.6 billion, as well as €3.9 billion in running costs. CO₂ emissions would fall by 2.6 million tonnes, and 124 km² of parking space would be freed up.
These are modelling results, not savings already achieved. Similarly, the reduction in congestion delays of up to 40% cited in the source relates to a scenario assessed using data from one congested Belgian motorway, in which 10% of commuters would switch to motorcycles. There is no basis for treating this result as a promise applicable to all European roads.
Not every impact could be quantified
Major motorsport events attracted more than five million spectators in 2024. Motorcycle tourism also generates spending at accommodation and food-service businesses, particularly in rural areas, but the study was unable to put a monetary value on its impact.
Rider training, insurance and courier services were also excluded from the calculations. The €35.1 billion GDP contribution therefore does not capture all motorcycle-related economic activity.
At the MOTONOMICS conference held during the EICMA show in Milan, ACEM also presented the initial direction of the industry’s “Vision 2035+” strategy. Competitiveness is its central focus, and the full strategy is expected to be published in early 2027. From a European perspective, the overall picture links two tasks: keeping manufacturing competitive and taking motorcycles into account in urban transport planning.
