The sector of the motorcycle in Spain at risk

On December 26 came into force? By surprise? the new registration tax for motorcycles and quads. This rate is now based on a scale of carbon dioxide emissions than the cars, which is applied to date.

However, since the change of rules has been in full Christmas holidays, it is virtually impossible to clarify the doubts about its implementation.

This situation has led to a stoppage of sales in last day of the year, says Pedro Quijada, production manager and senior vice president of Derbi Anesdor of the national association of industry of the two wheels.

Change legislation has come at a very sensitive time for the two-wheel market, a sector which until mid-December accumulating a 28% drop in sales of motorcycles and mopeds.

addition, this excess of legislative changes, this is the third amendment to the registration tax in the last three years, is creating an uncertainty in business, threatening the investments of the industrial sector in Spain. Thus, at least, I have said Quijada and Pedro Miguel Martinez, CEO of Piaggio Spain, a group of brands Vespa, Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Piaggio.

And if this were not enough, the forecasts for 2009 are not very optimistic. If the initial estimates were of a 30% decline in sales of motorcycles and mopeds, the arrival of the new tax will represent a cost of between 8% and 10%, could increase the market fall to 45%. The impact of this decline in sales of motorcycles and mopeds have already had their first impact in the industry of the two wheels.

Throughout the past year were canceled all contracts for workers, about 700 jobs and production has declined 30%, a percentage that could increase in 2009 and in addition to a fall of 3.2 % in 2007. So far nine plants operating in Spain have not resorted to regulate employment records Quijada but says that "2009 will be unavoidable" and warning that the major manufacturers could transfer production to the market more stable and less legislative changes.

Quijada

And Martinez, the current crisis in the sector is worse than the years 1993 and 1994, when it reached close to 75% of the workshops and dealers who worked then. They are now in danger of over 7,000 jobs in manufacturing, industry and ancillary distribution. Overall, the market for two wheels brings together nearly 30,000 workers between direct and indirect jobs.

In this regard, the directors of the Italian group added that manufacturers and users of the bike 'have never received aid and that this sector has been the plan discriminated Lives. " This is in addition to the actions of the General Directorate of Traffic, sometimes exaggerated to reduce an accident rate that is not always the responsibility of the users.

Until 3000

Euros more expensive

Since last December 25 was published in the Official Gazette the Law 4 / 2008 of December 23, the new motorcycles are taxed at rates different from those used for cars. This will establish four different sections in the registration tax. These charges are as follows: 0%-for motorcycles that emit less than 80 grams of CO2, 4.75%, to expel those between 80 and 100 grams of CO2-to-9.75% between 100 and 120 grammes of CO2 and 14.75%, exceeding the 120 grammes of CO2 emissions or not specified. Also, this new law also charged with the highest tax rate -14.75% - the 'quad' bikes and all those with more than 100 horsepower. This has led to an increase in the price of the most powerful motorcycles, according to the associations are now between 1,000 and 3,000 euros more expensive.