Major Players
Germany is a leader in automobile manufacturing with multiple world-renowned brands based in the nation but as for 2-wheelers, apart from BMW, the country has no domestic leader of motorcycle manufacturer so the top brands of 2-wheelers in Germany are based out of foreign nations while the domestic players have very less presence on the German roads. Here are the 7 most prominent motorcycle brands in Germany as of 2022:
- BMW Motorrad: BMW Motorrad is a subsidiary of the renowned German automobile manufacturer BMW. They produce a wide range of motorcycles, including sport bikes, touring bikes, and adventure bikes. BMW Motorrad is known for its high-quality engineering and advanced technology; they also boast a vast distribution network and strong brand name in the German audience.
- KTM Motorrad: KTM is an Austrian motorcycle manufacturer but has a significant presence in Germany. They specialize in off-road and street motorcycles and have gained popularity for their powerful and performance-oriented bikes. KTM offer stylish and sporty looking options for the German audience with a couple dozen models in their product portfolio.
- Yamaha: Yamaha is a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that is well-established in Germany. They offer a diverse range of motorcycles, including sport bikes, cruisers, scooters, and electric bicycles. Yamaha motorcycles are known for their reliability and innovation. Yamaha also market their offerings in Germany through rally racing models and they offer multiple options in the e-bikes segment.
- Honda: Honda is another prominent Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that has a strong presence in the German market. They provide an affordable and value for money options in the German 2-Wheeler market. They produce a wide variety of motorcycles, ranging from commuter bikes to sports bikes. Honda is known for its reputation for quality and reliability. Honda are a popular motorsport name, so they use this marketing opportunity to sell an experience to the target audience.
- Suzuki Motorrad GmbH: Suzuki is a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that has been active in Germany for many years. They offer a range of motorcycles, including sport bikes, cruisers, and scooters at variety of prices ranging from scooters at 2700 euros to bikes like Hayabusa at over 20000 euros. Suzuki bikes are recognized for their performance and affordability.
- Piaggio: Piaggio is an Italian company that manufactures scooters and motorcycles. They are well-known for their iconic Vespa scooters, which have gained popularity in Germany and around the world. Piaggio also produces other scooter models under its various brands, such as Aprilia and Gilera.
- Harley-Davidson Motorrader Kaufen: Harley-Davidson is an American motorcycle manufacturer that has a dedicated fan base in Germany. Harley are popular worldwide for selling high-end luxury motorcycles and they sell by this principle in Germany as well by offering value based models to the audience and offering multiple models of mototcycles under titles of ‘Sport’, ‘Cruisers’, ‘Adventure Touring’ and ‘Trikes’. They produce heavyweight cruisers and touring motorcycles known for their distinctive design, powerful engines, and unique riding experience.
- E-Rockit Systems GmbH: E-Rockit Systems GmbH is a German company that specializes in the development and production of electric motorcycles, specifically the E-Rockit. The German company aims to provide eco-friendly and efficient vehicles that contribute to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable urban mobility. They have only one offering as an electric 2-Wheeler, e-Rockit One which is a 125-cc electric motorcycle developed for delivering a fantastic sustainable driving experience.
Most selling 2-Wheelers
Below are the 10 Most Selling 2-Wheelers in Germany by models:
Indian Players in German 2-wheeler Market
Indian companies have strong tie-ups with the German players with most popularly when the Bajaj – KTM partnership began in 2007 when Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV (BAIHBV) picked up a 14.5% stake in KTM Power Sports AG and subsequently launched the brand in India. BAIHBV gradually increased its stake to 48%. In 2021, the shareholding was simplified when BAIHBV swapped 46.5% of its holding to gain a 49.9% stake in PTW Holding AG (the KTM group’s parent company). In addition to this, Bajaj also is a major exporter of 2-wheelers to Germany among many other countries in the world as it is a leader of 2-wheeler exporter in India.
Apart from Bajaj, there is TVS Motors Company which has recently, through its wholly owned subsidiary TVS Motor Singapore, signed an agreement to acquire its EV technologies-related assets in Germany. As part of the arrangement TVS Singapore division, a subsidiary of BBT 35/22 Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH has changed its name to Celerity Motor GmbH. The entire transaction will give wings to TVS expansion in the global electric two-wheeler market alongside its acquisition of Norton, Swiss E-Mobility Group, and EGO Movement to build EV capabilities as it is developing an electric two-wheeler platform with BMW Motorrad in the sub-15-watt hour range.
The most significant contribution of any Indian 2-wheeler manufacturer in Germany has been by Hero MotoCorp which, in 2019, set up its first research and development (R&D) center near Munich in Germany. Hero Tech Center Germany GmbH, is located at Stephanskirchen near Munich. It is the innovation cell of Hero Moto Corporation for new and revolutionary vehicle concepts It operates in tandem with Hero’s Global R&D hub and the Center of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. Setting up of the Hero Tech Center Germany builds an R&D ecosystem that is spread across global geographies of Hero MotoCorp’s business. This center in Germany is a source of modern technologies with a focus on the global customer base, thereby further strengthening R&D capabilities. The Hero Tech Center Germany GmbH enables Hero to easily tap into the huge pool of resources readily available across Europe and merge them with our ongoing operations at the CIT.
Most recently, Indian Electric Scooter manufacturer LML Electric signed a letter of intent (LOI) to form a joint venture with eROCKIT AG, the leading disruptive electric hyperbike manufacturer, based near Berlin, in Hennigsdorf, Germany. This partnership will result in the mass production of these Hyper Human Hybrids in LML’s facilities in India (the erstwhile Harley Davidson facility) and sold globally, including in India. Many exciting products will be developed together with eROCKIT using their exceptional R&D and technical expertise in this category for the global markets.
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