The 2023 bike sales figures are available and confirm known trends and the effectiveness of targeted bike purchase promotions and company bike models: More than a 50% share of e-bikes for the first time, doubling of folding bike sales, strong growth in e-transport bikes. The Austrian Association of Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Retailers (VSSÖ) presented these results under the motto “Austria is cycling towards the mobility transition”.

Market share of e-bikes at 52 percent, folding bikes doubled

Of around 421,000 bicycles sold by the bicycle industry to Austrian sports and bicycle retailers in 2023, 52% were e-bikes. The market share for adult bicycles was as high as 62%. Figures and text are taken from the VSSÖ press release from 19.4.2024.

Over 8,000 (e-)folding bikes were sold in 2023. This means that demand has doubled within a year (+105%). “Last year, the purchase of (e-)folding bikes was promoted for the first time as part of the e-mobility campaign,” explains Michael Nendwich, spokesman for the sporting goods trade in the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and Managing Director of the VSSÖ. “The success of this measure is also noticeable in the bicycle industry’s sales figures to sports and bicycle retailers: ” The demand for folding bikes without an electric drive is higher: 68% of the folding bikes sold were non-electric. Currently, the klimaaktiv mobil subsidy from the Ministry of Climate Protection (BMK) provides funding of up to €500.

The market for (e-)transport bikes is booming, particularly for motorized cargo bikes: A total of around 5,530 (e-)cargo bikes were sold. Only around 470 of these were not equipped with an electric drive. This means that over 90 percent of transport ferry bikes are equipped with an electric drive (+19.8%). The BMK’s e-mobility campaign is currently subsidizing new purchases by up to €900. This will be continued in 2024 as a joint funding campaign by the Ministry of Climate Protection and the specialist sports and bicycle trade. “In order to support the stationary trade economically, the dealer share of €150 will be waived,” adds Nendwich.

In addition to e-bikes, other categories are also developing positively: among non-electric bikes, the model categories of folding bikes (+39%), cyclocross and gravel (+20%) and racing bikes (+10%) have seen the strongest growth. This growth is set to continue in the coming years.

Over 1 billion euros in sales for the third year in a row

It was to be expected that bicycle sales from the industry to retailers would decline in 2023. Compared to the previous year, bicycle sales fell by 16.8%. The market is thus approaching the 2019 level again. “In 2020, 2021 and 2022, sales volumes were at an above-average level,” adds Hans-Jürgen Schoder, spokesperson for ARGE Fahrrad. “This disproportionately high growth was due in particular to pandemic-related catch-up effects and led to high stock levels in the trade in 2022 and 2023. As a result, fewer bikes were sold by the industry to retailers in 2023. However, this does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the actual demand for bicycles in retail. This remains very high and can be met very well thanks to well-stocked warehouses. With a few exceptions, specialist sports and bicycle retailers are reporting satisfactory sales and turnover figures.”

The economic strength remains high: for the third year in a row, bicycle sales in the specialist sports and in the bicycle retail sector have exceeded one billion euros. A total of EUR 1.18 billion was generated – this is the second-highest turnover since the bicycle market figures were collected by ARGE Fahrrad and the VSSÖ. E-bikes continue to be the main sales driver: 75 percent of total sales are attributable to e-bike sales. This corresponds to 894 million euros.

About ARGE Fahrrad

ARGE Fahrrad is the communication and information platform of the Austrian bicycle industry. In addition to the bike competence members KTM Fahrrad GmbH and VELLO GmbH, ARGE Fahrrad includes the companies AT Zweirad GmbH, Bike & Sports Handels GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Busch & Müller KG, Merida & Centurion Germany GmbH, Cycling Sports Group Europe B.V., Kalkhoff Werke GmbH, Faber GmbH, FLYER Bikes Austria GmbH, Funbike GmbH, Giant Austria, Hercules GmbH, Kettler Alu-Rad GmbH, KSR Group GmbH, NOX Cycles Austria GmbH, PIERER New Mobility Deutschland GmbH, Riese & Müller GmbH, SAIL + SURF GmbH, Scott Sports AG, Simplon Fahrrad GmbH, Specialized Germany GmbH, Thalinger Lange GmbH, Trek Bicycle Austria GmbH, Winora-Staiger GmbH and woom GmbH. ARGE Fahrrad has been operating under the umbrella of the VSSÖ – Association of Austrian Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Retailers – since the beginning of 2014.