Around 2.1 million electric bikes were sold in Germany in 2023, surpassing the number of bikes without an electric motor (1.9 million) for the first time. This surge in e-bike sales has propelled the total number of bicycles in Germany to a record 84 million, with approximately 11 million being e-bikes.
The two-wheeler industry has defied the general negative consumer climate, with e-bikes leading the way despite being a significant investment. Sales in 2023 reached a level “comparable to the bicycle boom year 2020,” according to the industry association ZIV.
E-bikes have now taken the majority share, accounting for 53 per cent of all bicycle sales in Germany in 2023, up from 48 per cent in 2022. “Bicycles and e-bikes are very popular with consumers despite the economic situation,” said ZIV Managing Director Burkhard Stork, highlighting the high proportion of specialist retailers at 77 per cent.
The value of bicycles and e-bikes sold in Germany in 2023 totalled €7.06 billion, compared to €7.36 billion in the previous year. This increase was driven by booming e-bike sales, which averaged €2,950 per unit compared to €470 for conventional bikes.
Domestic production of bicycles and e-bikes also remained strong, with 2.3 million units produced in Germany. While this did not surpass the all-time high of 2022, the ZIV stated that production has “stabilised at a very good level.”
According to Stork, the popularity of bicycles and e-bikes is expected to continue. “The market data we have published clearly shows that people in Germany attach great importance to cycling and the associated products in everyday life and for leisure,” he said. “Politicians should continue to flank this trend with appropriate measures.”
