Following the announcement of the closure of Yamaha and Derbi, which account for three-quarters of motorcycle production in Catalonia, the Generalitat has been forced to launch what it calls a strategic plan to save what remains of the industry and attract new manufacturers.
The proposal, presented to the representatives of the sector, is based on lines of financing and subsidies and the promotion of legislative changes to increase the demand for these vehicles.
The Government, through Acc1ó, It will open a line of financing of up to €12 million for the development of new models and to take steps towards the manufacture of electric motorcycles, as well as to facilitate mergers and acquisitions processes. The Generalitat will also open a line of subsidies of up to one million euros to finance new business opportunities, as explained yesterday by the general director of Industry, Joan Sureda.
Some of the measures agreed by the Generalitat are difficult to achieve, such as lowering the minimum age for obtaining a moped license, which the central government has raised to 15 years. Sureda explained yesterday that they will try to “ open the debate” so that these measures are reconsidered. Another of the most controversial points is the delivery of the so-called green card, so that trial motorcyclists can enter certain green areas, until now restricted. These measures are expected to boost the demand for motorcycles.
Those who weren’t there
Among those attending the presentation of the strategic plan were the manufacturers Rieju, Gas Gas, Ossa, Derbi, Sherco, Volta Motorbikes, Alfer and Xispa Motorbikes, while on the part of the suppliers were Manaut, J. Juan, Motor Racing Part and Facomsa. Neither Honda (which has moved its production to Italy) nor Yamaha, whose closure process is at a standstill after the Generalitat rejected its ERE, did not attend the meeting. “We’ve invited everybody; if they haven’t come, it’s been their own decision,” Sureda said at the press conference afterwards. The senior official of Empresa i Ocupació pointed out that Derbi had attended, although with a little active role in the meeting. On Yamaha’s dossier, Sureda avoided giving details about the negotiations. The CEO of Rieju, Jordi Riera, explained that his brand will start manufacturing electric motorcycles from June. Riera is also the president of the motorcycle cluster.
The plan also plans to attract more investments under the name Motos a Catalunya, through the Invest in Catalonia team. Sureda said there will be negotiations to recruit manufacturers, although he did not put any names on the table. The Government will also promote the creation of a centre of excellence in R+D and will continue to work on the risk map of the sector.
