German Bicycle Industry Remains Strong in First Half Of 2022

The launch of Eurobike comes as the Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) German Bicycle Industry Association publishes industry figures for the first half of 2022.

2021 is a record year for the bicycle and e-bike industry in Germany and Europe. Data from Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) shows that the cycling industry remains high in the first half of 2022, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, wars in Europe and inflation. The rental of high-end bikes is one of the reasons for this.

Production

The ZIV Association expects bicycle production in the first half of 2022 to be 580,000 units, which is 3% lower than the figure for the first half of 2021 (600,000 units). Production of e-bikes in the first half is expected to be 800,000 units, a drop of only 1% compared to the first half of 2021 (810,000 units).

Sales volume

ZIV data shows that bicycle industry sales are generally stable in the first half of 2022. High-end bikes, especially e-bikes, sold slightly better than last year as part of rental contracts. However, in the past few weeks, the German public has been significantly reluctant to buy due to factors such as rising inflation, especially in areas with lower bicycle prices. This change in consumer behavior can be observed in the aftermarket.

Supply Chain and Delivery Capabilities

Many bike shops are well-stocked, despite the two-wheeler trade association stressing that there are enough items on the market. In fact, as in the past, not all optional equipment (colors, frames, parts, etc.) can be chosen at will.

There are currently delivery issues, especially the drive components for e-bikes (battery, display and chips). In terms of frame production, many companies are currently trying to move Chinese-made products to other countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam or Cambodia.

Delivery routes are still very tight. The ports of departure and destination are still overcrowded. Even after arriving in Hong Kong, due to factors such as lack of labor in Europe, transportation and transportation costs are also greatly affected. ZIV does not expect the situation to improve until the end of 2023.