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Maeving RM1S on road
Maeving RM1S on road
Mayor Richard Parker sat on Maeving
BMW R1300GS onboard
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Britain’s motorcycle industry has urged the Government to do more to support zero- and low-emission two-wheelers, amid concerns that Westminster’s car-centric transport strategy is slowing the road to net zero.
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) submitted evidence to the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry into supercharging the EV transition, arguing that while billions of pounds of public funding continues to support electric cars, targeted support for bikes – both electric and combustion-driven – has been largely withdrawn, despite their potential to deliver faster and more affordable emissions reductions.
This factor has contributed to dwindling public uptake of battery-powered bikes, meaning that last year just 3282 new electric motorcycles and mopeds were registered in the UK, accounting for 3.5% of the total market.
That figure is declining annually, too; so much so that in just four years, the number of new electric bikes registered has almost halved.
Compare that figure with electric four-wheelers, and you’ll see 426,209 were sold in 2025, a 26% increase over 2024, meaning EVs now account for 22.7% of all new car registrations, according to the RAC.
The MCIA went on to add that a more ‘realistic’ approach to cutting emissions would not simply view tailpipe pollution alone, but consider small-capacity two-wheelers as a means of creating more efficient urban road networks.
Commenting, MCIA CEO Tony Campbell said: “We are overlooking one of the quickest wins in the journey to net zero. A car-only strategy is not a net zero strategy.
“Motorcycles, mopeds and microcars reduce emissions, congestion and cost right now – yet policy continues to treat them as an afterthought.”
Against that backdrop of limited support from Westminster, one British manufacturer has found itself on the receiving end of a hefty investment purse.
Electric motorcycle maker Maeving secured £11m, including backing from the West Midlands Mayor, in a move positioned as a vote of confidence in British industry.
The Coventry-based firm received £500,000 from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO), contributed by Mayor Richard Parker, as part of the wider funding round.
The investment is intended to support Maeving’s expansion into overseas markets including Europe and North America, while strengthening domestic manufacturing and its UK-based supply chain, which provides around 75% of the components used in its bikes.
Mayor Parker visited Maeving’s Sibree Road factory to see production in action. He said: “This investment shows that the green industrial revolution is happening in the West Midlands, creating high-quality jobs for local people and cementing our place as a dynamic exporter and a leader in advanced manufacturing.”
Maeving say their revenues have quadrupled since 2023, with its machines outselling all other electric models in the UK market, including those from Chinese manufacturers and established mainstream players such as BMW.
The £11m funding round includes investment from Venrex, Future Planet Capital and Elbow Beach Capital, alongside angel investors John Ayton MBE and Simon Hill-Norton, and is supported by a £3m working capital facility from HSBC. It follows more than £1.1m in grant funding from Innovate UK and the Advanced Propulsion Centre for future electric motorcycle development.
The MCN take
It won’t be news to anyone reading this that motorcycles are fantastic congestion-busters, which in turn, has huge implications for emissions levels.
One of the most frequently quoted statistics on this comes from 2011 with what is commonly referred to as the ‘Leuven Report’. The findings of this study suggest that a 10% shift in transport mode from cars to motorcycles would result in a 40% reduction in congestion for all road users, as well as a reduction in total emissions. Why encouraging powered two-wheeler use is not therefore a Government priority is a mystery, but we fully support the MCIA in their attempts to boost investment for our sector.
As for Maeving’s recent financial backing, we think it’s well-deserved. The brand’s RM1S previously nabbed our Electric Bike of the Year award and for good reason. Maeving make great machines and we wish them all the best with their expansionary endeavours.
