Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
Motorcycle industry in France - statistics & facts
The popularity of motorized two-wheelers in France stayed relatively stable between 2020 and 2021—11 percent of French consumers reported intending to purchase a two-wheeler within twelve months in a November 2021 survey, which was the same share of consumers recorded in 2020. Motorcycle sales in the country reached over 210,500 units—a swift recovery from the drop recorded in 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the motorcycle retail industry was still relatively small. The French motorcycle retail and repair sector had an annual turnover (taxes excluded) of 5.2 billion euros in 2019. However, motorcycle retail only accounted for 2.7 percent of this revenue, with wholesale amounting to 2.8 percent. By contrast, the motorcycle repair segment was the most lucrative within the overall motorcycle industry.
The sector has also been impacted by the cost-of-living increases and price inflation recorded throughout 2021 and 2022. The monthly inflation rate in France reached 6.8 percent in July 2022, which was the highest level on record between September 2018 and September 2022. The Consumer Price Index of motorcycles has also been rapidly growing, up to 112.2 in September 2022 compared to 2015, the base year. This steady increase in motorcycle prices since May 2020 was faster than the one for new and used cars in France.
The sector has also been impacted by the cost-of-living increases and price inflation recorded throughout 2021 and 2022. The monthly inflation rate in France reached 6.8 percent in July 2022, which was the highest level on record between September 2018 and September 2022. The Consumer Price Index of motorcycles has also been rapidly growing, up to 112.2 in September 2022 compared to 2015, the base year. This steady increase in motorcycle prices since May 2020 was faster than the one for new and used cars in France.
A market dominated by motorcycles
Motorcycles were the best-selling motorized two-wheeler type in France. In 2021, new bike sales totaled over 210,500 units, while nearly 694,400 used motorcycles were registered in the country that same year. Comparatively, just over 98,600 new mopeds were sold in France in 2021. Motorcycles with an engine size above 1,000 cubic centimeters were the most popular in the country, followed by those with an engine size between 500 and 749 cubic centimeters. However, there were segments in which mopeds overtook motorcycles in popularity. Most electric two-wheeler sales in France were mopeds, which reached close to 20,800 sales in 2021 and comprised around 81.93 percent of this electrified market. Mopeds were also the most stolen motorized two-wheeler type in the country, at around 63 scooter thefts per thousand mopeds in 2021. This is partly due to the use motorcyclists make of mopeds. In 2020, approximately 47 percent of trips made using scooters and light motorcycles were in urban areas. This was the largest share of urban area trips compared to heavy motorcycles—mainly used on secondary and primary roads.Commuting boosts the industry
Motorcycles were not the preferred mode of transportation of French consumers for commuting, with only four percent of respondents to a November 2022 survey mentioning using their bikes as part of their daily commute. This share was even lower for consumers using their mopeds or shared mopeds. However, as of 2020, commuting was the second-leading purpose for motorized two-wheeler usage in the country. This reliance on two-wheelers for commuting partly contextualizes why the Ile-de-France region records the highest number of issued motorcycle licenses. The region boasts high urbanization and population volume, primarily due to Paris’s development.
