Bicycle Sales in Significant Decline

Bicycles have never been more popular, yet new bicycle sales are declining. A closer look at a market that is no stranger to paradoxes.

The UNION sport & cycle has revealed the results of the 2023 Cycle Observatory during the Vélo in Paris trade show. Since 1999, this study has provided an annual overview of bicycle, e-bike, and accessory sales in France.

New bicycle sales came to a halt in 2023 with a 5% decrease compared to the previous year. Rest assured, the future of the little queen is not threatened as the French continue to favor bicycles as a mode of transportation and public authorities are increasing support for the transition. The bicycle market is simply not immune to a sluggish economic context that compels the French to prioritize spending on necessities and postpone purchases of replacement goods, such as new bicycles.

A cyclical decline?

According to the Observatory’s figures, the total bicycle market decreased to €3.4 billion in 2023, a decline of 5.5% compared to 2022. A total of 2,231,000 bicycles were sold, representing a 14% drop compared to the previous year.

This slowdown has, for the first time, impacted electric bicycles. The strong and sudden demand between 2020 and 2021 has waned, and for the first time, e-bike sales have decreased by 9%. This decline in demand has mechanically led to an increase in stock levels among sellers, which in turn has resulted in a decrease in orders from producers, whose production volumes have dropped by 24%.

However, there is no need to panic as the share of e-bikes in France now constitutes 61% of the market, up from just 45% in 2019. The e-bike is currently the best-selling electric transport mode in France, accounting for 43% of electric vehicle sales. This is despite prices remaining high, with the average price of an e-bike close to €2,000, while the average price of a traditional bicycle is only €553.

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