Big guns collaborate on connected motorbikes

All three are members of the ACEM (European association of motorcycle manufacturers), which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2014. The MoU states that C-ITS features will be introduced from 2020 onwards, but the three motorcycle giants are coming together now to accelerate the process.

“In order to speed up more motorcycle-specific safety developments, we intend to cooperate to promote a successful implementation of C-ITS in motorcycles and scooters,” says Tetsuo Suzuki, operating officer at Honda.

The announcement was made at this week’s ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, the world’s largest event for intelligent transport systems and services. According to Karl Viktor Schaller, executive vice president of development at BMW Motorrad, other motorcycle manufacturers are also welcome to join the consortium. 

“Our aim is to promote a timely and comprehensive use of cooperative ITS systems in powered two-wheelers offering the potential to improve safety,” he said. “We therefore encourage other companies to join us.”