Zero will pay new riders to get on electric motorcycles… just not in the US

Electric motorcycle maker Zero is offering cash back to newly licensed riders who buy one of its bikes or scooters, but the deal is only available in Europe, not the United States.

Under the "New Rider Bonus," people who get a new motorcycle license and buy a Zero within three months can get €500 (about $580) back on larger models like the DSR/X, SR/F, S, and DS, or €250 (about $290) back on the LS1 scooter and XE lightweight models. The offer covers riders with A1, A2, or full A motorcycle licenses, plus UK and Irish training certificates, and applies to new 2025 or 2026 model-year bikes bought from authorized dealers in countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

There's no version of this program for American buyers. This fits a broader pattern: Zero, which started in California, has been shifting its focus toward Europe, including moving its headquarters there and launching products for that market first. For US homeowners weighing an electric motorcycle or scooter purchase, this particular incentive won't apply to you, and it's a sign that Zero's promotional attention and new-product rollouts are increasingly aimed overseas rather than at its original home market.