guidoebert.com

Confindustria ANCMA, the trade association representing Italy’s motorcycle industry, says two-wheeler sales last year totaled 404,767 units.

Scooter sales climbed 10.8 percent to 295,422 units, exceeding even sales volumes reached in 2007. They benefitted most from a federally subsidized incentive scheme that included the offering of a free helmet with purchase and €500 ($640) to anyone who replaced a Euro 0 or Euro 1 emissions class motorcycle or scooter with a new Euro 3 emissions class vehicle under 400cc.

Motorcycle sales, having received little help by incentives, dropped 20.2 percent to 109,345 units – the lowest volume in the past 10 years.

“It’s obvious that without the measures of support the market would have suffered even more severely,” ANCMA President Corrado Capelli announced in correlation with the release of the sales figures. “That is why we intend to again campaign for additional incentives in 2010.”