More sold for the first time

E-bikes overtook conventional bikes in 2023

(Bild: mmphoto - stock.adobe.com)

Last year, for the first time, more e-bikes were sold than bikes powered purely by pedal power. Of the approximately 421,000 bikes sold, 52 percent were e-bikes, while the market share for adult bikes was 62 percent, according to ARGE Fahrrad. All in all, however, the bicycle industry was only in low gear in 2023, with a significant decline in sales.

Compared to 2022, sales fell by 16.8 percent. This means that the market is approaching 2019 levels again, according to the bicycle interest group. "In 2020, 2021 and 2022, sales volumes were at an above-average level. This disproportionately high growth was due in particular to pandemic-related catch-up effects and led to high stock levels in the trade in 2022 and 2023," explained Hans-Jürgen Schoder, spokesperson for ARGE Fahrrad.

Rising demand for folding bikes
Nevertheless, demand remains high. "With a few exceptions, sports and bicycle retailers are reporting satisfactory sales and turnover figures," emphasized Schoder. The bicycle sales figures also show the rapidly increasing demand for folding and transport bikes.

More than 8,000 folding bikes were sold in 2023. This means that demand has doubled within a year. 68 percent of folding bikes sold were non-electric. On average, a folding bike without a battery costs 1954 euros and an e-folding bike 2578 euros. Up to 500 euros of this is currently subsidized, according to the bike industry.

Cargo bikes are booming
5530 cargo bikes were sold. Only around 470 of these were not equipped with an electric drive. The average price for an e-cargo bike was 5620 euros. Up to 900 euros are currently being subsidized, according to Michael Nendwich, spokesman for the sporting goods trade in the Chamber of Commerce.

For the third year in a row, bicycle sales in the sports and bicycle retail sector exceeded one billion euros. E-bike sales accounted for 75 percent of total turnover.

Among non-electrically powered bicycles, the model categories of folding bikes, cyclocross and gravel as well as racing bikes saw the strongest growth. "Stocks first need to be reduced, but we expect the bicycle market to stabilize by 2025 at the latest, including for the industry," says Schoder, looking to the future.