„Krise noch nicht überwunden“: Fahrradbranche verliert Umsatz und Beschäftigung

The German bicycle industry is still grappling with the lingering effects of a severe industry crisis, according to data from the Association for the Future of Cycling. In 2025, both sales and employment in this medium-sized sector shrank, with employment dropping 3% to around 74,300 people and sales falling 7% to 25.2 billion euros. While manufacturing revenues saw only a minor decline, sales in retail plunged by 10%.

"The demand remained commendably stable, but companies continued to suffer from falling prices and the aftermath of oversupply," writes the association. After a pandemic-induced boom, Germany sold 3.8 million bicycles in 2025, down from 3.9 million the previous year. Excess inventory forced retailers to offer discounts, particularly for electric bikes that accounted for over 80% of the revenue.

The Dutch group Accell filed for bankruptcy, affecting manufacturers of brands like Haibike, Winora, and Ghost, as well as a major distributor. The industry cautions it is not yet overcome, citing inflation and economic stagnation as hindrances. Sports bikes, such as racing and gravel bikes, fared well, but mountain bikes and classic city e-bikes suffered from price pressure. Sales in 2025 were still significantly higher than the 2019 level before the pandemic, at 16.5 billion euros.

Despite the stable demand, the association notes that Chinese competition poses a threat to the German bicycle industry. "China is aggressively exporting bicycles and components to Europe, even reacting to US tariffs, sometimes with dumping prices," explains the business director. Bund, state, and municipal savings also impact the industry.

However, investments in cycling infrastructure, currently funded by the Climate and Transformation Fund, face budgetary pressure in the coming years. While progress is being made, the association deems the pace insufficient and coverage uneven. "A major effort is still needed."