Brussels, 17/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The motorcycle industry in Europe (ACEM) has expressed reserve about the European Commission proposal to bring in compulsory fitting of anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on all motorcycles under 125 cc. According to ACEM, this obligation, which is contained in the draft regulation on market approval and surveillance of two- and three-wheeled vehicles (COM 2010/542), could be acceptable on condition that exemptions are made for certain types of motorcycles. The industry fears that the generalised installation of ABS systems would have negative repercussions, above all for small town motorcycles and scooters, whose affordable price is currently their main added value. The draft regulation will be discussed at the European Parliament's industry and internal market committee on 22 March.
According to ACEM, the measure proposed by the Commission with a view to increasing the safety of motorcyclists, could fail to achieve its aim. The different kinds of ABS (mainly made in Japan and Germany) which are effective for cars will not provide greater safety for bikes, according to an ACEM spokesman. “We believe in the ABS but cannot say whether it will resolve all the problems”, he said. On the contrary, the compulsory fitting of ABS systems on those types of motorcycles suggested by the Commission will entail a higher price for those models, just at a time when the industry (especially in Italy) is coming out of an unprecedented economic crisis. Taking all models together, the economic recession caused the sector a market loss of 24% in 2010 compared to 2008 and a loss of 13% compared to 2009 (1.6 million two-wheeled vehicles sold in 2010 compared to 2.7 million in 2007 before the economic crisis that hit Europe). Installation of the ABS would, ACEM says, represent an additional cost of around €200 per motorcycle for the industry, i.e. a rise in the sales price to consumers of €500 to €750. This rise in price would be detrimental to countries, like Italy, where, because of the traffic congestion, motorcycles and scooters are a preferred means of travel, ACEM says. It goes on to state, however, that generally speaking it is not opposed to the generalised installation of the advanced braking system, already used moreover by one of its members, BMW. The Commission proposal would be acceptable on condition that exemptions are foreseen for a number of motorcycles (such as cross-country motorcycles or those whose fuel tank capacity does not exceed four litres). ACEM also proposes that entry into force of the new EURO guide for determining the emissions level of vehicles should be deferred by one year, from 2013 to 2014, compared to the provisions of the proposed regulation. (A.By./transl.jl)