Motorcycle registrations regained momentum in Europe’s five largest markets during the first half of 2026. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom recorded 636,490 new motorcycles between them, compared with 545,127 in the same period a year earlier. That is a rise of 16.8%. Registrations were also 27% above the first half of 2019. The figures describe five countries and six months, not the whole of Europe or the full year.
Italy had the largest volume, with 220,776 registrations, up 13.2% year on year. Germany recorded 114,849 motorcycles and the fastest growth among the five markets, at 27.6%. Spain reached 141,101, France 104,802 and the United Kingdom 54,962. Every market grew, but at different rates. The combined result therefore does not describe an identical experience for each country.
Mopeds were counted separately: six monitored markets registered 72,076 new vehicles, 4.7% more than a year earlier. The Netherlands was the exception, recording a decline while the other countries in that group grew. Strong half-year figures are a useful signal, but they cannot establish the outcome for all of 2026 on their own. Industry representatives say the autumn months will be important in judging whether the increase continues beyond the summer season.