Italy’s 1Q Two-Wheeler Sales Climb 11.3%
Sales of two-wheelers in Italy in March jumped 19.8 percent compared to sales in March 2005, according to motorcycle association ANCMA. Motorcycle sales experienced a significant upswing, up by 19.6 percent, while sales in the scooter segment, after detracting 4,154 vehicles acquired by Italy’s Postal Service, went up by 1.9 percent. Counted separately, 50cc units accounted for 11,617 sales in March, nearly equal to sales in March 2005.
For the first quarter, ended March 31, sales of motorcycles and scooters increased 11.3 percent compared to the first three months of 2005. Sales of 50cc units during the first three months of the year totaled 26,726 vehicles, up 4.7 percent compared to the 25,524 vehicles sold last year.
Together, motorcycles, scooters and 50cc units accounted for first quarter sales of 140,853 units, up 30 percent compared to the same three-month period in 2005.
In other powersports news from Italy, the 64th International Motorcycle Exhibition (EICMA) takes place November 14-19, 2006, in Milan.
EICMA’s exhibition area in 2005 grew 29.3 percent to 63,785 sq. meters, and approximately 1,560 companies exhibited at the event, a 33 percent increase from the previous show.
The 500,000 visitors through the gates included 53,776 trade visitors, of which 15,876 were from outside of Italy.
“Last year was a crucial year for EICMA,” organizers said. “We moved to the new Fiera Milano Exhibition Centre, we separated the Bicycle Show from the Motorbike Show, and we moved the Motorbike Show from September to November.”