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Boosted by Pandemic-Era Trends, Germany Registers Record Breaking E-Bike Sales in 2020; An Opening for the US Market Too?

by Freedonia Industry Studies

April 9, 2021

The highly competitive German e-bike market – the second largest worldwide behind China – turned in a record breaking performance in 2020. Despite the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) reports that sales of e-bikes grew 43% in 2020 to reach 2.0 million units.

The 2020 performance represents an acceleration of a trend that has been occurring for a decade: German riders of conventional bicycles and some internal combustion engine scooters and mopeds are moving to e-bikes. Consumers are attracted by the superior performance and greater convenience compared to bicycles, as well as the fact that e-bikes cost less than mopeds and scooters. Over time, the performance gap between e-bikes and mopeds and scooters has also shrunk as high-end and specialty e-bikes developed for Germany.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of restrictions on both businesses and people. Use of public transportation decreased sharply and other modes of transport were also became less appealing (e.g., ride-sharing, taxis). In addition, consumers increasingly looked for new forms of recreation following the closures of many bars, restaurants, clubs, and similar businesses.

The 2020 spike in e-bike sales will have a long-term impact on the German market because many new e-bikes users are likely to continue to participate in the activity for many years. E-bikes in particular are well suited for older riders because of their light weight and ease of use. German consumers generally prefer high-performance models and, as consumer awareness grows, technological innovation will accelerate.

Some of these same trends have held true in the US market, presenting opportunities here as well. For instance, 38% of respondents to The Freedonia Group National Online Consumer Survey (conducted February – March 2021) noted that they were using public transportation less because of the coronavirus pandemic and 31% noted that they were using taxi and ride-share services less because of the pandemic. Though some of these reductions may have been due to reductions in overall travel and commute time, such trends present an opening for other types of transportation to take root, particularly low-cost options for shorter trips.

For more information and discussion of opportunities, see The Freedonia Group’s extensive collection of off-the-shelf research, particularly Global E-Bikes, Global Motorcycles, and Global Motorcycle Lubricants. Freedonia Custom Research is also available for questions requiring tailored market intelligence.

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