Industry

Two-wheelers: more scooters and fewer motorbikes in August

In 2026, 291,831 vehicles were registered, 11.2 per cent more than last year. This marks the second consecutive month of decline for motorbikes, whilst electric vehicles grew by 31.6 per cent and scooters by 9.92 per cent

by Gianluca Brazzioli

1 September 2026

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3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The two-wheeler market in Italia is growing: 17,038 vehicles were registered in August, 5.28 per cent more than in the same month last year. More and more scooters, fewer and fewer motorbikes.

This trend is becoming more pronounced in 2026 and can be seen from the figures released by Confindustria Ancma, the National Association for the Motorcycle and Accessories Industry.

Six out of ten vehicles are scooters

In August, 10,272 scooters were registered, up 9.92 per cent year-on-year. This sector is almost single-handedly driving the market’s growth. Mopeds (with engine capacities of up to 50 cc) are far fewer in number – 948 – but have seen a 20.92 per cent increase.

Motorcycles are heading in the opposite direction: 5,818 new registrations, down by 3.9 per cent. This does not yet signal a market turnaround, partly because August accounts for less than 5 per cent of the full-year volume, but it is the second consecutive decline following July’s 6.51 per cent drop.

The difference between the two sectors has become quite apparent. According to Ancma’s president, Mariano Roman, ‘motorcycles retain a strong emotional appeal, whilst scooters primarily meet the needs for practical and functional mobility, particularly in light of current fuel price trends’.

The reference to fuel comes at a time of high prices, despite various government measures. The latest discount approved by the Council of Ministers dates back to 4 August and has been extended until 5 September: it amounts to 17 cents and applies only to the price of diesel. On 1 September, however, the national average price at self-service pumps still exceeded €2 for both fuels: €2.022 per litre for petrol and €2.130 for diesel.

The market remains above 11%

The summer slowdown in motorbike sales does not negate the sector’s cumulative growth since the start of the year. Between January and August, 109,173 motorbikes were registered, representing a 5.02 per cent increase compared with 2025. Mopeds totalled 10,372 vehicles, up by 10.19 per cent, whilst scooters are the fastest-growing segment: 172,286 registrations and an increase of 15.59 per cent.

However, 2025 had been a poor year: 345,287 vehicles were registered, representing a 7.52 per cent fall compared with 2024, a result influenced by the significant surge in registrations at the end of 2024, prior to the entry into force of the Euro 5+ standard.

Electric vehicles are gaining ground

There is also a much smaller market that is growing faster: in August, 595 electric two-wheelers were registered, 31.64 per cent more than in the same period in 2025. In the first eight months, 7,313 units were registered, representing growth of 21.44 per cent.

“The recovery in the zero-emission vehicle market now appears to be firmly established, following a particularly difficult 2025,” notes Ancma. Last year, sales of electric two-wheelers fell by 15.82 per cent, totalling 8,561 registrations.

Quadricycles are also making a recovery. August marks the third consecutive month of growth, with 774 vehicles sold and an increase of 21.51 per cent. However, the year-to-date figure remains negative: 11,367 units, down 4.98 per cent.

Italia is weighing on the European market

Italian figures carry particular weight even beyond the country’s borders. In the first half of the year, the country accounted for around 35 per cent of the 636,000 motorised two-wheelers registered in the main European markets.

According to Roman, there are no signs of a crisis in the sector at present: “It will be important to continue monitoring the trend in the key economic indicators, but at the moment there do not appear to be any structural factors that would suggest difficulties for the future of the motorcycling market, apart from normal fluctuations.”