The scooter market - France (2024)

1.2 The global market

The global scooter market was valued at $**.** billion in ****, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of *. *% between **** and ****, reaching $***.** billion in ****.

Global scooter market trends World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Source: ****

The global scooter market is experiencing positive growth due to a number of factors. Rapid urbanization and improved road connectivity in emerging economies have greatly increased demand for transport. The absence of public transport in remote areas is driving consumers to turn to the purchase of personal vehicles. Due to their light weight, ease of driving and use, and fuel economy, scooters have become the preferred choice of consumers. In addition, growing environmental concerns are prompting more and more people to opt for energy-efficient vehicles, such as electric scooters. Governments in many countries are also offering incentives and subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles, further stimulating the market. Technological advances and improvements in electric vehicle charging infrastructure make scooters even more attractive to consumers. Finally, the relatively low cost of scooters compared with other means of personal transport makes them an affordable option for a wide cross-section of the population.

1.3 The domestic market

Sales trends in motorcycle trade and repair (***) France, ****-****, in billions of euros

An analysis of sales trends in the motorcycle trade and repair in France, over the period ****-****, reveals an overall upward trend, despite some fluctuations. In ****, sales stood at *.** billion euros, and have gradually risen to reach *.** billion euros in ****, an increase of **.**%.

This overall growth, although punctuated by slight declines, such as that seen between **** and ****, can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as increased demand for two-wheeled vehicles, technological improvements, and greater awareness of the benefits of sustainable mobility.

Evolution of scooter market size by volume France, ****-****, in number of scooters sold Source: ****

Analysis of the scooter market in France from **** to **** also shows a general growth trend in terms of sales volume, with an increase in sales of **%

In ****, the market recorded ***,*** scooters sold, and after an initial decline in ****, a gradual recovery is being observed. The number of scooters sold has risen steadily to reach a notable peak in **** with ***,*** units, followed by a slight decrease in **** to ***,*** units.

The annual variations, including the drop in **** and fluctuations in **** and ****, can be attributed to various economic and contextual factors, including the ...

1.4 Foreign trade in scooters

In this section, we focus on data provided by French customs under the category ********, entitled "Scooters, cubic capacity > ** cm* but <= *** cm*" [***]

Scooter market trade balance France, ****-****, in millions of euros and in % Source: ****

Analysis of the trade balance for the scooter market in France, covering the period from **** to ****, highlights a trade balance in deficit over the last few years. In ****, the value of scooter exports was **.* million euros, while imports reached **.* million euros, resulting in a coverage rate of **.*%. In ****, exports rose to **.* million euros, and imports also increased to **.* million euros, improving the coverage rate to **.*%. However, over the "last ** months", from March **** to February ****, although exports held steady at**.* million euros, imports continued to rise to **.* million euros, resulting in a slight drop in the coverage rate to **.*%. This dynamic indicates that, despite a significant increase in exports, scooter imports consistently outstrip exports, reflecting the French market's dependence on foreign manufacturers. These trends underline the importance of strengthening the competitiveness of local manufacturers to improve the balance of trade and reduce the trade deficit in this sector.

France's main customer countries France, ****, € million Source : French Customs In ****, an analysis of France's main customer countries for scooters reveals ...

2.1 Overview of individual transport in France

Regular modes of transport France, ****, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % Source: ****

In ****, the modes of travel used regularly in France show a clear predominance of the car, used by **% of respondents, confirming its central role in the daily mobility of the French.

Walking comes second with **%, followed by public transport such as buses and subways, used by **% of respondents.

Use of non-electric bicycles is relatively low at *%, and electric bicycles even lower at *%. Motorized two-wheelers, including scooters and motorcycles, account for *% of travel modes, underlining their niche position in the mobility landscape. Cabs and VTCs, as well as electric and non-electric scooters, are used by a minority of the population, with percentages of *%, *% and *% respectively.

This distribution highlights a marked preference for individual modes of transport, in particular cars, and a limited but notable adoption of motorized two-wheelers.this could indicate growth opportunities for the scooter market, particularly in urban areas where flexible, fast mobility is increasingly valued.

Criteria for choosing a means of daily transport France, ****, in Source: ****

Practicality is the most important criterion for choosing a means of transport, cited by **% of participants, closely followed by journey time, at **%. Cost is also a significant factor, cited by **% of respondents.

Other considerations such as lack ...

2.2 The French view of two-wheelers

French people's overall image of motorcycles and two-wheelers France, ****, % of total Source: ****

A significant majority, **% of respondents, say they have a fairly good image of these means of transport, while **% report a very good image . On the other hand, a notable **% expressed a fairly poor image, and *% said they had a very poor image. These data indicate a generally more positive perception of motorcycles and two-wheelers among the French population, with a predominance of a rather good or fairly good image. However, the notable presence of a significant proportion of respondents with a negative opinion underlines a diversity of opinions and suggests that there are specific concerns or reservations associated with these means of transport.

Detailed image of motorcycles and two-wheelers for the French France, ****, % (***) Source : Odoxa A strong positive association is observed, with **% of respondents considering motorcycles and two-wheelers to be the domain of enthusiasts, and **% associating them with a symbol of freedom. However, concerns are also expressed, notably with regard to safety, with **% of respondents considering them dangerous, and **% perceiving them as generating noise pollution. A significant proportion(***) also feel that motorcycles and two-wheelers do not respect the highway code. These results reflect a nuanced perception of motorcycles and ...

2.3 Scooter riding habits in France

Percentage of French people using scooters/motorbikes for daily travel France, ****-****, in Source: ****

The proportion of consumers using scooters on a daily basis has been relatively stable over the years: thus, this proportion has oscillated between *% and *% of French people since ****, and has seen little variation in recent years.

Frequency of use of a motorized two-wheeler for daily travel France, ****, in source: BVA

If we take a closer look at the place of the scooter (***). Conversely, **% of French people never use this means of transport.

Reasons for scooter use France, ****, % of total Source: ****

The graph shows the reasons for scooter use in France in ****, expressed as a percentage of respondents. The main reasons cited include walking and leisure, with **% of respondents, as well as commuting, accounting for **%.

Evening outings were also mentioned by **% of participants, followed by daily shopping, with **%. On the other hand, less frequent use is reported for business trips(***).

These results highlight the diversity of uses for scooters. The predominance of walking and commuting suggests use for both leisure and daily needs, underlining the versatility of this mode of transport.

2.4 Scooter rider profile

Profile of two-wheeler drivers by gender France, **** Source: ****

This graph shows that men are proportionally more likely to use two-wheelers, with *% of male respondents, compared with only *% of female respondents. This distribution indicates a male predominance among two-wheeler users, which could be influenced by various socio-cultural, economic or individual preference factors.

Distribution of two-wheeler riders (***) by age group France, ****, %, % Source: ****

The ** to ** and ** to ** age groups are the most represented, each with *% of respondents, followed by the ** to ** age group with *%.

These data indicate a predominance of young adults among two-wheeler users, which can be attributed to factors such as the search for convenient and economical means of transport, as well as an increased interest in individual mobility at these ages.

Distribution of two-wheeler riders (***) by status France, ****, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % Source: ****

Higher socio-professional categories (***) account for *% of riders, while *% of lower socio-professional categories and the economically inactive are two-wheeler riders.

These data show a relatively balanced distribution of two-wheeler use across different socio-professional statuses. The slight predominance of CSP+ could be linked to a greater financial capacity to acquire and maintain these vehicles, as well as to more flexible mobility choices.

However, the significant presence of CSP- and inactive people among drivers indicates ...

2.5 Electric scooters, a green alternative

According to data fromACEM (***), **,*** new electric scooters were registered in Europe in ****, compared with **,*** in ****, an increase of **.*%. France appears to be a major player in this energy transition.

To assess the size of the French market, we can base ourselves on the number of electric scooter sales in France, as well as on the number of registrations.

Comparison of the number of electric and internal combustion scooters sold France; ****-****, in units Source: ****

To assess the size of the French market, we can use the number of sales of electric scooters in France, as well as the number of registrations. The market for electric scooters in France is expected to grow strongly in **** (***), due to high inflation reducing French purchasing power. Sales of electric scooters in the Paris region may have been boosted by the introduction of paid parking for internal combustion scooters in September ****. The number of internal combustion scooters sold fell between **** and **** (***), still in a context of high inflation and reduced purchasing power.

Distribution of scooters by energy source France, april ****, % (***) Source: ****

The vast majority of scooters, **.**%, are combustion-powered, while electric scooters account for just **.**% of the total. These figures show that, despite growing interest in electric ...

3.1 Value chain

The process begins with scooter manufacturers, who are responsible for producing the scooters and the spare parts needed for maintenance and repair. These manufacturers play a crucial role in providing the high-quality basic products on which the entire value chain is based, and the scooters and their spare parts then pass through various distribution channels before reaching the end customer. The main channels identified are dealers (***), who are often directly affiliated to the manufacturers, enabling them to offer official, guaranteed products. They also benefit from the manufacturers' training and technical support, guaranteeing high-quality after-sales service. Dealers play a key role in representing the brand and providing specialized advice and services to customers.

Independent garagesare not directly affiliated to manufacturers, but they play an important role by offering repair and maintenance services, and sometimes selling used scooters. Independent garages can offer a more flexible and generally less costly alternative for consumers, while providing more extensive service coverage. Finally, with the advent of e-commerce, many sites specializing in scooter and spare parts sales have emerged. These platforms make it easy to compare products, offer a wide range of options, and facilitate online purchasing. They can also offer detailed information and customer reviews, helping ...

3.2 Number of companies and number of employees

This section looks at the following activity codes according to INSEE's NAF nomenclature:

**.**Z : Manufacture of motorcycles **.**Z: Trade and repair of motorcycles

These two codes cover all motorcycles and, as such, have a wider scope than our study. Nevertheless, in the absence of more detailed levels in this nomenclature, it remains interesting to consider these data for the trend and overview they offer of this sector.

Motorcycle manufacturing

establishments registered under code **.**Z France, ****-**** source: ACOSS

The number of establishments remained relatively stable over this period, with some variations from one year to the next. Overall, the number of establishments appears to be maintaining an upward trend, rising from ** in **** to ** in ****(***).

Workforce registered under code **.**Z France, ****-**** source : ACOSS

there was a general downward trend in headcount in the early years, reaching a low point in **** with *,*** employees. However, from **** onwards, a gradual increase is observed, with the workforce recording a significant rise from **** onwards. This increase continues until ****, when the number of employees reaches its highest level in the series, with **** .

This development may reflect an upturn in activity in the motorcycle manufacturing sector in France, perhaps in response to increased demand or investment in ...

3.3 A market dominated by foreign manufacturers

Global giants

The scooter sector, like the broader motorcycle sector, is largely dominated by global players such as Yamaha, Honda, BMW and Kawasaki.

Market share by volume (***) France, ****, in % of registrations source: Motoservices

The chart shows market share by volume of motorcycle and scooter registrations in France in April ****, expressed as a percentage. Honda dominates the market with **.*% of registrations, closely followed by Yamaha with **.**%.

BMW takes third place with **.*%, while Kawasaki follows with *.*%. Triumph, KTM and Suzuki share more modest market shares, with *.*%, *.*% and *% respectively.

These data indicate a strong concentration of the market around a few main brands, led by Honda and Yamaha, which can be explained by their reputation, the diversity of their product range, and their historical presence on the market. BMW, with a significant share, also appears to be well positioned, particularly in the premium and electric segments.

Number of sales of the most popular scooters France, *st half ****, in number of sales Source: ****

The Honda Forza *** stands out as the most popular model with **** models sold, followed by the Yamaha TMax *** with **** units. The Honda PCX *** and BMW CE ** take third and fourth place respectively.

3.4 The shared mobility trend

Shared mobility refers to the public availability of what are traditionally individual means of transport: cars, scooters, bicycles and, more recently, in dense urban areas.

The new regulations mentioned in the paragraph above should also boost the option of self-service electric scooters for car-sharing purposes, described in the graphs below as "free-floating". In ****, journeys made with these types of scooters will account for *% of total journeys made in shared mobility .

Distribution of shared mobility journeys France, ****, in % of number of trips Source: ****

However, in terms of value, self-service scooters have a larger share, estimated at **% of revenues (***).

Market share by value of shared mobility services

More and more self-service scooter stations are springing up in major cities. The scooters used are electric.

shared scooter services are convenient and accessible for users:

Registration: Users download the shared scooter operator's mobile application, create an account and register their payment details. Locating and booking : Using the app, users can locate available scooters nearby and book them. Unlocking : Once near the scooter, users unlock it by scanning a QR code or via the app. Use: Users drive the scooter to their destination. Rates are generally calculated by the minute, hour or distance traveled. Parking and ...

4.1 The different types of scooters

There are many types of scooters available on the market and they vary according to a wide range of criteria and characteristics. We can classify them mainly under * types of scooters:

Source: ****

The choice between the different models and types of scooters, based on the above criteria, can be made according to use, budget, model aesthetics and ecological preferences.

4.2 Market price trends

Consumer price index for motorcycles France, ****-****, index base **** Source: ****

The graph above shows the evolution of the consumer price index for motorcycles in France from **** to ****, with a base of *** in ****. A general upward trend is observed over the period, with moderate variations from one year to the next.

The index reaches its highest level in ****, at ***. **, representing a gradual increase since ****.

This trend suggests an overall increase in the cost of motorcycles in France over the period studied, probably influenced by factors such as inflation, fluctuations in material and labor costs, and market developments.

Prices of top-selling scooter models in France :

Brand Model Price Honda Forza *** ****€ Yamaha TMax *** *****€ Honda PCX *** ****€ Yamaha Xmax *** ****€ BMW CE ** *****€

4.3 A wide range of used scooters

In France, the used scooter market is enjoying significant momentum, offering buyers a vast selection of vehicles to suit their needs and budgets.

This variety enables buyers to find the scooter that matches their preferences and lifestyle. What's more, this extensive offer is often accompanied by attractive prices, making the acquisition of a used scooter more affordable for many consumers. Dealers and sellers also offer advantageous financing options, making the purchase easier for those looking for flexible payment solutions.

What's more, the availability of warranties on used scooters offers buyers added peace of mind. By opting for a used scooter, consumers are also contributing to environmental sustainability by extending the life of existing vehicles. This trend reflects a growing awareness of the importance of reuse and carbon footprint reduction in urban mobility.

Breakdown of scooter sales by type of purchase France, ****, % (***) Source: ****

The graph shows the breakdown of scooter sales in France in ****, by type of purchase, expressed as a percentage. Used scooters account for a significantly higher share of the market, with **% of sales, while sales of new scooters make up just **% of the total.

This distribution suggests a strong preference on the part of French consumers for buying used ...

5.1 Scooter driving regulations

The authorizations required to drive a scooter depend on the motorcycle's cubic capacity and the license held by the rider. For example

** cm*/* kW scooter: the minimum age is **, and the rider must hold a BSR or higher motorcycle license. Scooter *** cm*/** kW: the minimum age is **, and the rider must hold an A* or B license and have undergone specialized training (***). Maxi-scooter over *** cm* limited to ** kW: minimum age ** and A* license.

Compulsory equipment

The French Highway Code, which applies to scooters of all sizes and displacements, sets out a list of compulsory equipment for driving a scooter. Failure to comply with these laws constitutes an offence and is punishable by a fine.[***]

Helmets and gloves: wearing an approved helmet (***) is compulsory, and failure to comply is punishable by a fine of up to €*** and a deduction of * points. The same applies to gloves, which must also be CE-approved, and failure to wear them can result in a fine of up to €*** and the loss of one driving license point. [***] High-visibility vest: it is compulsory to carry a high-visibility vest (***), on your person or in the boot of your scooter, on pain of a €** fine. In the event of ...

5.2 Technical inspection now in place for two-wheelers

Roadworthiness tests for motorized two-wheelers, three-wheelers and quadricycles will be compulsory from April **, ****, according to a decree published in the Journal Officiel on October **, ****. The purpose of the inspection is to assess the condition of vehicles and identify any faults requiring repair. The vehicles concerned include mopeds, motorcycles, scooters, motor tricycles and light and heavy quadricycles.

The introduction of roadworthiness tests is gradual, depending on the date of first registration of the vehicles:

Source: ****

Roadworthiness tests are valid for three years. The cost of roadworthiness tests is not regulated by the government , and is set freely by the test centers.

Several aspects are checked during the inspection: the condition of brakes, the absence of excessive pollutant and noise emissions, the condition of steering equipment, the operation of lights and reflectors, the condition of mirrors, and the condition of axles, wheels, tires and suspension. Depending on the results, the vehicle may receive a favorable result, an unfavorable result for major defects (***).

Faults are classified into three categories:

minor: with no significant impact on safety or the environment major : likely to compromise safety or the environment critical : constituting a direct and immediate danger

Competition motorcycles belonging to members of sporting federations are exempt ...

5.3 Euro anti-pollution standards

Euro emission standards are designed to set maximum limits for harmful gas emissions from motor vehicles, depending on their date of entry into service. These standards enable the European Union to:

Effectively combat global warming Harmonize environmental compliance rules across all member states

All new vehicles sold in Europe must comply with the Euro standard in force at the time of entry into service. These standards are divided into three categories according to vehicle type:

light and commercial vehicles Trucks, buses and coaches Two-wheelers, motorized tricycles and quadricycles

A new standard is due to be introduced in the coming months. It is not the introduction of the Euro * standard that is planned for motorcycle manufacturers, but an improved version of the current standard called Euro *+. Long-anticipated, this new regulation aims to tighten the requirements introduced two years ago. Although emissions thresholds remain unchanged, Euro *+ will introduce additional criteria, notably for on-board diagnostic systems, durability tests and noise tests. The latter, particularly eagerly awaited, have not yet been defined. [***]

5.4 Paid parking for two-wheelers in Paris since September 2022

From September *, ****, motorcycles and scooters (***) in Paris will be subject to parking charges. This decision is part of the parking reform initiated by the City of Paris. The main aim is to establish fairness between different users of public space, regardless of the type of vehicle used, while encouraging the adoption of less polluting vehicles.

This measure comes at a time when public space in Paris is in high demand and limited. Free parking for motorized two-wheelers has therefore been abolished to better manage this constraint. However, certain groups will still benefit from free parking, notably electric *WDs, disabled people and homecare professionals, under certain conditions.

This decision could have an impact on scooter sales, as it could potentially deter some customers. Indeed, the need to pay to park may be perceived as an additional cost and discourage the purchase of scooters, especially for those who frequently use their vehicles to get around town.

6.1 Player segmentation

• Honda Motorcycle
• Peugeot Motocycles
• BMW Mottorrad
• Piaggio
• Yamaha
• NIU
• VmotoSoco Limited
• Suzuki