The sale of new moped bicycles more than doubled last month compared to March 2020. Figures from RAI Vereniging, BOVAG and RDC show that 5.925 copies were registered, compared to 2.596 a year earlier. This reached the highest level ever for the month of March. As many as 1 in 3 new mopeds last month was electrically powered.

Last year in March, the share of electric in moped sales amounted to 17,5 percent, which was good for 455 units. Last month, it concerned 1.909 electric mopeds and thus over 32 percent of the total. It has been agreed in the Climate Agreement that only new electric moped bicycles will be sold in the Netherlands from 2025, and the industry is well on schedule in view of these figures. In corona time, the light moped has also proven to be an alternative to public transport for many people, resulting in more demand for individual forms of transport. For daily use and for medium distances, it is an ideal means of transport for many. 

FIRST QUARTER

In the first quarter of 2021, a total of 11.885 new moped bicycles were sold, or almost half more than a year earlier and with an electric share of more than 35 percent. Never before have so many moped bicycles been registered in a first quarter. The five best-selling brands were Piaggio (including Vespa), La Souris, SYM, Spyder Wheelz and Super Soco with a combined market share of almost 60 percent. In the Netherlands, more than 1 moped bicycles were registered on 2021 April 804.000, of which more than 47.000 are electrically powered, or almost 6 percent. Four years ago, it concerned less than half of electric mopeds (almost 22.000), representing a 3 percent share.

MOPEDS IN THE MIN

The number of new mopeds, on the other hand, decreased in the first quarter. Compared to a year ago, almost 4 percent less was registered and the total came to 4.206. That number does not include fast electric bicycles ('speed pedelecs'), which also have a moped registration number. The specialist trade also noted a decrease in sales of second-hand mopeds: the 3.979 units sold were 105 fewer than in the first three months of 2020. Sales of used mopeds increased by 4 percent to 8.241 units, according to BOVAG on their website.

Also read: Fewer new cars registered again