The United Kingdom’s motorcycle industry is urging the Government to enhance its support for zero- and low-emission two-wheeled vehicles, cautioning that the current transport strategy, which predominantly prioritizes cars, may be hindering progress toward achieving net-zero emissions.
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) told the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry on boosting the EV transition that while electric cars keep getting billions in public funding, targeted support for bikes – both electric and petrol-powered – has mostly been pulled, even though they could help cut emissions faster and more cheaply.
This factor has led to a drop in public interest in battery-powered bikes, with only 3,282 new electric motorcycles and mopeds registered in the UK last year, making up just 3.5% of the market. That number keeps falling each year, and in just four years, registrations have nearly halved. In contrast, electric cars are booming—426,209 were sold in 2025, up 26% from 2024, bringing their share to 22.7% of all new car registrations, according to the RAC.
The MCIA suggested that a more practical approach to cutting emissions should go beyond focusing solely on tailpipe pollution instead recognizing the role of small-capacity two-wheelers in improving urban road efficiency. MCIA CEO Tony Campbell noted, “We’re overlooking one of the quickest wins on the road to net zero. A car-only strategy isn’t a net zero strategy. Motorcycles, mopeds, and microcars can cut emissions, ease congestion, and lower costs right now – yet policy still treats them as an afterthought.” In light of limited backing from Westminster, one British manufacturer has recently secured a significant investment boost.
Electric motorcycle maker Maeving has raised £11m, with support from the West Midlands Mayor, in what’s being seen as a boost of confidence for British industry.
Coventry-based Maeving has secured £500,000 from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO), backed by Mayor Richard Parker, as part of a larger funding round. The investment will help the electric motorcycle maker expand into Europe and North America, while boosting UK manufacturing and its supply chain, which already provides about 75% of its bike components. During a visit to Maeving’s Sibree Road factory, Mayor Parker praised the move as proof the green industrial revolution is thriving in the West Midlands, creating quality local jobs and cementing the region’s status as a leader in advanced manufacturing. Maeving reports its revenues have quadrupled since 2023, with its bikes outselling all other electric models in the UK, including those from major Chinese brands and established names like BMW. The £11m funding round also includes backing from Venrex, Future Planet Capital, Elbow Beach Capital, angel investors John Ayton MBE and Simon Hill-Norton, plus a £3m working capital facility from HSBC. This follows over £1.1m in grants from Innovate UK and the Advanced Propulsion Centre for developing future electric motorcycles.
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