A Motorcycling in Australia Motorcycling Motorcycling in Australia Directions for the Motorcycle Industry 2017–2020 Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Automotive Chamber of Federal MOTORCYCLING IN AUSTRALIA Directions for the Motorcycling Industry This document has been prepared by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ Motorcycle Group. It outlines a range of issues affecting motorcycling in Australia and sets out directions to be taken by the industry over the next three years (2017–2020). These will reinforce the status of motorcycling as an important transport mode offering significant benefits to regulators, planners, and communities, and to the riders themselves. The document is relevant to the importers and retailers who constitute the motorcycle industry, government agencies (from national regulators to local planners), and stakeholders in related industries – in fact, anyone with an interest in motorcycling. About the FCAI Scoping the Industry FCAI is Australia’s peak industry organisation This document is concerned with two-wheeled representing manufacturers and importers of vehicles – motorcycles (both road and off-road) and passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, scooters (smaller vehicles with a step-through frame and motorcycles. and a floor for the rider’s feet). The manufacturers represented in the Motorcycle These machines are sometimes referred to as Group are: Powered Two Wheel vehicles (PTWs). » BMW Motorcycles Australia One in five of the vehicles sold in Australia that are » BRP Australia Pty Ltd [Can-Am, BRP] classed as “motorcycles” are All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) or Side by Side Vehicles (SSVs). Almost all of » Harley-Davidson Australia Pty Ltd these are four-wheeled vehicles which are mainly » Honda Australia Motorcycle and Power used commercially and on rural properties. Equipment Pty Ltd ATVs are not included in this analysis of the » Kawasaki Motors Pty Limited motorcycle industry. » KTM Australia [KTM, Husqvarna] There is also a small number of three-wheeled » NF Importers [Ducati, Norton] motorcycles (trikes) entering the market and being » Peter Stevens Importers [Triumph, Hyosung, used on public roads. Vespa, Gilera, Piaggio, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi] » Suzuki Australia Pty Limited » Victory Motorcycles [Victory, Indian] » Yamaha Motor Australia Pty Limited. Issued November 2016 If you would like more information about the issues discussed in this document, please contact: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries 59 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston ACT 2604 02 6247 3811 | www.fcai.com.au 1 A VISION FOR AUSTRALIAN in Australia Motorcycling MOTORCYCLING Motorcycling is a smart and affordable way to travel, The Australian Market ideally suited to the Australian lifestyle. Motorcycles come in many styles and sizes from trail bikes to There are more than 40 brands of motorcycles and cruisers to touring bikes to scooters. They have lower scooters imported into Australia. They are sold by authorised dealers across Australia, supported travel costs, produce less CO2 emissions, reduce travel time and traffic congestion in urban areas, and use by other motorcycle-related businesses such as valuable inner-city parking space more effectively. The workshops and sellers of clothing and accessories. smaller, more efficient engines also have less impact Approximately 880 businesses service the motorcycle on urban air quality. Riding motorcycles and scooters industry across Australia. encourages outdoor activity and a healthy lifestyle. In 2015 there were approximately 88,000 new two wheeled motorcycles sold in Australia. Motorcycling in Australia: This included off-road motorcycles, road motorcycles » Offers an affordable, accessible, and sustainable and scooters. Road motorcycles comprised 51% of mode of transport; all new bikes sold, off-road bikes were 43%, and » Can provide significant but often overlooked scooters 6% of the total new bike sales. benefits in transport policy and urban planning; » Provides a variety of sporting and recreational Both new and second hand motorcycles are sold and opportunities and promotes a healthy outdoor serviced through over 880 businesses, employing lifestyle; and nearly 4,000 people including 1,700 motorcycle mechanics. These businesses have an annual » Makes a significant contribution to national turnover of $1.8 billion, making a profit of over economic activity. $102 million and paying wages in excess of $184 This document sets out a number of key issues to million. Overall they contribute $340.5 million to the be considered and addressed by governments at all Australian GDP or 0.02%. levels, the wider community, and the motorcycle Adding used motorcycle sales takes the annual total industry itself in order to ensure this vision is achieved: sales to over 200,000 motorcycles. » Transport policy and urban planning (page 3) » Energy efficiency and emissions policies (page 4) Motorcycle Sales » Motorcycling safety policies and programs (page 5) 120,000 100,000 » Motorcycling safety perceptions (page 6) 80,000 » Support and promotion of motorcycle sport and 60,000 recreation (page 8) 40,000 20,000 » Recreational off-road licensing and designated 0 land use (page 10) 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 » Design standards and new technology (page 12) O-Road Road Scooter » Industry relationships (page 13). Graph of sales More than > More than Approximately 1.05 MILLION over MOTORCYCLES 4500 across Australia 200,000 40,000 (including rural) NEW AND USED motorsport events sales each year sport brands or single event licences annually contributing IMPORTED issued each year millions of dollars to local economies At the moment Approximately there are 2.2 22,000 annual million people holding registered racing licences issued current motorcycle motorcycles on each year licences in Australia Australian roads motorcycle-related businesses employing nearly 4000 people 2 Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Automotive Chamber of Federal MOTORCYCLE RIDERS: WHO ARE THEY? People of all ages and from all walks of life Other world-recognised events include the annual ride motorcycles. Finke Desert Race (500 entrants and at least three times as many support crew). The Ulysses AGM (3000 – 5000 older riders participate) and Junior Mini-bikes allow children to be introduced to Motocross Championships (700 entrants and over motorcycling at a very young age. 1000 family members for support) are just two more They are able to enter motorcycle sports as young as examples of hundreds of community events run age seven which helps build skills and responsibility. every year by motorcyclists. At the other end of the scale, mature-age riders There is a major contribution to society from have the time and money to enjoy recreational riding motorcycle-related events such as the “Snowy Ride” and touring. (which raises funds for the Steven Walter Children’s Cancer Foundation), the Ride 4 Kids, and the many There are about 2.2 million motorcycle licence- Toy Runs in each state which collect toys and goods for holders in Australia and around 807,000 registered the less fortunate in our society. motorcycles (ABS Census data: 2015). In addition to motorcycles for sport and recreation, nearly every farm in Australia has one or more Motorcyclists – A Part of motorcycles of some description and motorcycles the Community are a familiar sight on our streets – from the small Motorcycle sport and recreation is popular, with motorcycles used by Australia Post to deliver mail an estimated 4500 events each year conducted by throughout city and regional areas, to the powerful Motorcycling Australia (MA), the national body for machines used on roads and highways by our police organising motorcycle racing around the country. patrols. The “last kilometre” in delivering goods and messages in the CBD is extremely important to the About 22,000 motorcycle sport riders hold a full racing city’s services and businesses; motorcycles are an or competition licence – another 40,000 single event intermediate solution between bicycle couriers and competition or recreational licences are issued each light commercial vehicles. Items now being delivered year. These events contribute millions of dollars to the by motorcycle include fast foods, medical supplies economy, particularly in regional and rural areas. and samples, and spare parts. International motorcycle events bring visitors to However, there is significant potential within Australian Australia and local municipalities. Currently Australia urban areas for the greater use of motorcycles. hosts rounds of both the World MotoGP and World Superbike championships; from time to time, other international motorcycle events are held in Australia such as Speedway World Championships, Trials World Championships and Motocross World Championships. 3 MOTORCYCLES IN TRANSPORT POLICY in Australia Motorcycling AND URBAN PLANNING Motorcycling offers significant benefits in Transport Options managing traffic and in urban planning Motorcycling provides a low cost and flexible means and therefore warrants greater attention of medium to long distance travel enhancing social in the development of transport policies. inclusion whereas public transport is limited in Motorcycles have significantly less impact the areas served and the hours of operation while on roads than any other type of vehicle cycling, even for dedicated cyclists, is only a viable option for relatively short-distance commuting. which means infrastructure assets last longer. However, most