New record for e-bike sales

The increasing popularity of the bicycle as a means of transport and leisure/fitness equipment is also reflected in the sales figures of the Swiss bicycle manufacturers and importers association Velosuisse in the Corona year 2020. A total of 501`828 bicycles and e-bikes were sold. With 171`132 units, e-bikes reached another record high.

(SBEC) Compared to 2019, e-bikes increased again by 28.5 percent to 171`132 units. In fact, however, this sales figure is likely to be even higher. The brisk sales of new vehicles - bicycles and e-bikes - following the Corona lockdown a year ago meant that the warehouses at dealers and suppliers were completely sold out. In the process, even models from the previous year found new owners, which had already been recorded in the sales statistics of the previous years. In addition, internet trading also gained in importance in the bicycle market in 2020.

With a view to the import statistics of the federal government, the Internet trade and the numerous small brands were therefore weighted more heavily in the Velosuisse sales statistics. This resulted in a significant increase in volume of just under 100,000 units, particularly for muscle bikes. For the more expensive vehicles, which are still mainly purchased from specialist retailers, the online trade had less of an impact.

 For every 2 bikes there is 1 e-bike

 Due to the change in the basis for the survey, the bicycle market did not actually grow as strongly as the growth rates in the statistics would suggest. Adjusted for this, however, a positive trend can be seen: the growth in e-bikes was less at the expense of muscle bikes. In the sports and children's bike segment in particular, more non-motorised bikes were sold in terms of volume. This indicates that whole families were increasingly getting into the saddle during the Corona period.

 In the e-bike category, both road bikes (+21.4 percent) and mountain bikes (+40.3 percent) once again posted strong gains. Among road e-bikes, the growth in the fast category, which supports up to 45 km/h, stands out with an increase of 7 percent. Just under 20,000 S-pedelecs were sold in Switzerland in 2020, roughly the same number as pure electric cars. This could be an indication that more and more commuters are relying on a fast e-bike.

 Growth rates not only in new sales

 However, it was not only new sales that recorded growth rates last year. Long-term rentals, tourist bike and e-bike offers and second-hand sales also increased significantly, as reported by Rent-a-Bike, for example.

This means that the demand for new vehicles, spare parts, service and repair work is growing. At the moment, Velosuisse members are still confident that they can meet the demand, which has not diminished, regardless of the weather and season, even over the otherwise quiet winter period. Customers are advised to look for a new bike or e-bike in good time and to be flexible in terms of make, model, colour and equipment. After all, if a particular model is out of stock, it could take longer for it to become available again. But that was already the case before Corona. As well as the fact that certain models from the Far East can no longer be reordered.

March 9th 2021