E-bike sales in Germany surpass regular bikes

Despite the current bleak economic situation, the number of bicycles sold in Germany continued to grow last year, new market data from the German bicycle association (ZIV) shows. And for the first time ever, the sale of electric bikes, also known as e-bikes, has surpassed regular bikes in the country.

In 2023, electric bicycles accounted for 53% of total bicycle sales. The average cost of these e-bikes saw an increase, climbing from €2,600 in 2020 to €2,950 in the previous year. With 2.1 million e-bikes sold compared to 1.9 million conventional bicycles, this reflects a significant trend in one of Europe’s key bicycle markets.

"The rising mobility, energy, rent and living costs, coupled with a growing environmental and health awareness, are conditions that boost the popularity of bicycles and e-bikes – both now and undoubtedly also in the future," says ZIV CEO Burkhard Stork.

This is good news and hopefully this trend continues and spreads throughout Europe so that policymakers starts to treat bikes as a serious and important transportation mode.

Have you purchased a new bike recently - and was it perhaps an e-bike?