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Special Reports
90% of bicycle and e-bike pro-
duction in Germany. With 137
members, ZIV has a strong pres-
ence and representation at the EU
level. They represent Germany,
the EU, and international techni-
cal standardization committees.
ZIV’s market data indicates they
are a leading source of informa-
tion and insights into the German
bicycle industry. They provide
member services advice on policy
and technical issues and carry out
communication press work, public
relations, and industry marketing.
They remind us the term “e-
bike” is widely used interchange-
ably with pedelec (pedal electric
cycle), EPAC (electrically power-
assisted cycle), and e-bike, with
fast electric bicycles with type ap- more complicated, especially
proval being known as S-pedelecs.
High-End Demand Pushes
Figures Up
As a result of lockdowns,
rising interest in outdoor activi-
ties, and worries about supply,
sales hit all-time highs during the
COVID-19 years. But that high
point is no longer there. Unit
sales have been going down for
two years in a row, which shows
that consumers are becoming
more careful and picky.
A change that stands out
is the aforementioned rise of the
electric bike. Over half of all
bikes sold in Germany are now
electrically assisted, and they add
even more value to the market as
a whole. The average price of a
bicycle has gone up a lot because
of these high-end models.
Bikes costing more than
$2,160 USD now account for
a sizable portion of the market,
while models priced less than
$1,080 USD are gradually losing
relevance. This change in prices is
mostly caused by e-bikes, which
command higher prices because
of their advanced technology and
unique brand identities.
E-Bike Services Give Extra
Lifelines
The growth of the bicycle
service sector, which is becoming
more important both strategically
and in terms of making money,
can be put down to bikes getting
when it comes to managing bat-
teries, diagnosing problems, and
updating software. A lot of stores
now depend on service fees as a
steady way to make money, and
the lack of skilled technicians has
caused a backlog.
Employment in the bicycle
industry is growing steadily with
German production of all bikes has near leveled back down to pre-
pandemic times.
2.2
1.9 1.9
1.3 1.5
1.2 1.0 0.9
0.7 0.8
2018 0.9 2020
2019
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Global E-Bike Source 2025-2026
this. With the added complexity of
modern bikes, particularly e-bikes,
a demand for technically skilled
workers in service, production,
and support roles is created.
The industry benefits from
this rise in complications when
bikes need regular maintenance
and technical help. This has led to
a rise in service revenues: in 2024,
almost 90% of retailers said their
workshop business grew, which
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product sales were slow.
Managing Stock
On the business side, the
industry is entering a corrective
phase. After explosive demand
in 2020–2021, many manufac-
turers and retailers over-ordered
stock in anticipation of continued
growth. The result meant el-
evated inventory levels that have
weighed down liquidity and com-
pressed margins. Revenue growth
slowed across much of the sector
in 2023, and financial discipline
has become a renewed focus.
2.5 (Unit: Millions of vehicles)
2.4 2.3
2.0
1.7 1.6
1.4
0.9
2022
0.7
0.6
2021 2023 2024
6RXUFHƝ=,9
153