E-bike sales give French cycle market a boost

In 2017, the total French bicycle market registered a slight growth, mainly thanks to the sale of e-bikes doubling, as reported in Bike Europe.

According to the French bicycle observatory, which is made up by the industry federation Union Sport & Cycle, the sales of regular bicycles and e-bikes combined increased to 2,782,000 units in 2017 with an average price of €459 (up 9% vs the previous year). E-bike sales alone were approximately 255,000 units.

In turnover, the French market increased by 9.5% from 1.166billion euro in 2016 to 1.278billion euro last year, buoyed mainly by the e-bike boom.

The average price of all e-bikes sold in France stands now at € 1,564. Urban and Trekking models continued to be the main e-bike categories with 220,000 units sold in 2017. Relatively the e-MTB generated the biggest growth as sales volume reached over 35,000 in 2017 compared to only 15,000 in 2016. The French bicycle observatory has excluded speed pedelecs from these figures until now, however next year the speed pedelec together with the rapidly growing category of e-cargo bikes will be included.

Jérôme Valentin, CEO of Cycleurope France and co-chairman of the Union Sport & Cycle federation expects an ongoing huge growth in the next few years. "Based on projection the French e-bike category should reach a total of 1 million units representing a 35% market share in the next seven years.

E-bikes, bicycles and P&A combined, the French market generated a turnover of 2.027 billion euro last year, up 0.2% compared to 2016.

The global e-bike market is on course to generate a value of 8,500million dollars by 2025, and more and more IBDs are looking to take a slice of the market with 81% of cycle dealers expecting e-bikes to be responsible for the largest increase in sales this year. To help cycle dealers become more aware of all the issues surrounding both selling and servicing e-bikes, the ACT have launched a ‘Guide to e-bikes' online library.

Introduction to e-bikes An introduction to different types of e-bikes around and the technical aspects.	Regulations, legislation and standards A guide through the minefield of regulations and legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes in the UK.	Selling e-bikes A guide to how you can make the most of the biggest opportunity within the cycle trade.	Servicing e-bikes Regardless of whether you do or don't sell e-bikes, you don't want to be turning away customers who need the services of your workshop. Here's a guide for the best practices.

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