The German Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV) expects the country's bicycle imports to slow in the second half as dealers sell through bikes purchased in the second quarter ahead of mid-season price hikes.
Bicycles and e-bikes sales grew 2 percent to about 2.86 million units in Germany in the first half of 2015 compared with a year earlier and is likely to continue on that path in the back half, according according to estimates from the ZIV (Zwierad Industrie Verband). However, in an interview published by Eurobike-show.com Tuesday on the eve of the Eurobike trade show, ZIV General Manager Siegfried Neuberger said imports will likely decline in the back half.
ZIV estimates bicycle imports surged in the first half to about 1.2 million units, or about 56 percent of sales, as dealers loaded up on bikes before brands could raise prices to adjust for the weak euro.
“In regard to the import situation, this spring manufacturers stocked up due to the currency situation,” Neuberger explained. “Normally, about 60 percent of imports take place in the first half of the year; this year estimates place this figure at just over 70 percent. Consequently, in the estimation of the ZIV, imports will drop noticeably in the second half of the year.”
For all of 2015, ZIV expects unit sales of e-bikes of around 520,000 units. Over the intermediate term, ZIV expects e-bikes to comprise about 15 percent of the market, or 600,000 e-bikes.
“More and more, the e-bike is becoming a partner in everyday mobility,” said Neuberger, noting that a steady flow of technical advances, new models and alternative designs continue to stoke interest.
