Above: Honda’s PCX125 still tops the 50-125cc category for August 2025
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has released the latest bike and scooter registration figures for August 2025, and while the market is still in the red, there are faint signs of a turnaround.
Total volumes closed at 6,846 units, representing an 11.5% decline compared to the same month last year. That’s not exactly cause for champagne but, given the battering the sector has endured in 2025, “less bad” still counts as “better.”
Scooters, ever the resilient urban runabouts, are carrying the torch of hope. They ended August up 3.2% on last year, bucking the broader trend and reminding us that in uncertain times, a thrifty twist-and-go can still charm buyers.
New motorcycle registrations, meanwhile, remain negative year-on-year but are showing marked improvement compared to the first half of the year, when declines were sharper and optimism harder to find.
MCIA CEO Tony Campbell struck a cautiously upbeat note: “It is encouraging to see the market recovering, albeit still negative, with certain segments now performing ahead of 2024. We remain hopeful that the decline will continue to narrow as we move toward the last quarter of the year.”
Data from MCIA
Industry eyes now turn to September, traditionally the second biggest month on the calendar thanks to the arrival of the new 75 registration plate. Add in a recent Bank of England interest rate cut, and there’s potential for a modest boost.
That said, clouds remain on the horizon in the form of economic uncertainty and the increasing fear of tax rises, both of which are likely to keep consumer wallets firmly closed.
Campbell noted the MCIA will keep engaging with government departments ahead of the Autumn budget, hoping to ensure the sector isn’t overlooked in the broader economic debate.
For now, August’s message is one of cautious optimism: the freefall may be slowing, scooters are holding steady, and September’s numbers could set the tone for how 2025 finishes.
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