- Germany: 24.8 percent drop in new registrations from January to October 2025
- Chinese brands such as CFMoto and Voge are growing strongly
- BMW remains the market leader, but is struggling with significant declines outside the GS series
The motorcycle market in Germany came under severe pressure in 2025. After an exceptionally strong previous year, the current registration figures show a significant decline. The artificially inflated year 2024, characterized by special sales of Euro 5 models, has a particularly significant impact on the comparison. At the same time, market shares are shifting as Chinese manufacturers are becoming increasingly important with their growing model range and competitive prices.
Review: A strong previous year distorts the market comparison
In 2024, the German motorcycle market recorded an increase of 16 percent, driven by special promotions to sell off Euro 5 models that will no longer be eligible for registration from 2025. In the over 125 cc segment in particular, growth was as high as 21.5 percent. This artificial increase is now having a significant impact on the year-on-year comparison and is expected to contribute significantly to the slump in 2025.
From January to October 2025, new registrations fell by 24.8 percent. This represents a contraction of the overall market from 197,990 to 148,893 units. Of these, 92,041 were motorcycles and 19,913 were light motorcycles, with scooters and three- and four-wheeled vehicles accounting for the rest.
Segment analysis: Naked bikes particularly hard hit
The decline affects almost all major segments. Naked bikes recorded a decline of 27 percent, touring enduros were down 22.2 percent, and sports bikes lost 10.5 percent. Only electric motorcycles performed well, increasing by 105 percent according to registration data, although the level remains low at 2,140 units and a market share of 1.44 percent. Zero is the market leader in this segment with 274 sales.
Brand ranking: BMW in the lead, but under increasing pressure
BMW leads the way in motorcycles over 125 cc with a market share of 21.5 percent and 19,791 units. It is followed by Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Triumph. The sharp decline at KTM is striking, with registrations falling by 78 percent. The range of models from Mattighofen fell from 10,853 to 2,386 machines.
The best-selling motorcycle remains the BMW R 1300 GS with 7,492 new registrations, followed by the Kawasaki Z900 (4,381) and the Z650 (2,149).
Influence of one-day registrations and used statistics
Another relevant factor for 2025 is that numerous motorcycles that were technically new but had one-day registrations from 2024 fell into the “used” category. Although these units were sold regularly in 2025, they were not included in the statistics. This results in a distorted picture of the actual market volume.
Switzerland: Stable market and other conditions
In contrast to Germany, Switzerland recorded growth of 3.6 percent in the first ten months. The motorcycle market, excluding scooters, remained virtually stagnant with an increase of 0.46 percent. Yamaha leads the rankings ahead of Honda, BMW, and Kawasaki. The most popular model to date is the Yamaha MT 07 with 796 registrations, just ahead of the Kawasaki Z900 (748) and the BMW R 1300 GS (604).
The difference from the German market interpretation also results from the registration rules. In Switzerland, the date of import counts, which means that Euro 5 models imported before January 1, 2025, can still be registered as new machines and are statistically attributed to the respective year.
October 2025: Clear shifts in favor of Chinese brands
The current monthly figures show significant changes. While many European manufacturers recorded sharp declines in October, brands such as CFMoto and Voge grew significantly. CFMoto increased registrations by 118.3 percent, Voge by as much as 218.2 percent.
The reasons for this include an attractive price-performance ratio and a model range that has now reached maturity. Examples such as the new CFMoto 1000MT X show that Chinese manufacturers are also set to gain importance in classic European core segments such as travel enduro bikes.
BMW: Strong GS, weak other series
BMW remained the market leader in October, but recorded significant declines. With 1,205 new registrations, the brand was 40.1 percent below the previous year’s figure. The figures for the R 18 series and the single-cylinder models G 310 R and G 310 GS, which now play virtually no role, are particularly critical.
The R 1300 GS remains the clear winner with 409 registrations in October and a share of over 84 percent within the 1300 series. Models such as the R 1300 R, RS, and RT are at a similar level, but do not achieve the relevance of the GS.
The top brands in October: a mixed picture
The market overview shows BMW ahead of Honda (928 units), Kawasaki (636), Yamaha (356), and Harley Davidson (294). While established brands are struggling with declines, Chinese manufacturers are growing strongly. KTM, on the other hand, lost 69.8 percent compared to the same month last year.
Conclusion
The motorcycle market in Germany is facing a difficult environment in 2025, characterized by a strong previous year, changed registration structures, and new competitors. While Switzerland remains stable, Chinese brands are gaining in importance and shifting market shares. For established manufacturers, this means that model strategies and pricing policies must evolve.
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