It was at the opening of the "Vélo in Paris" trade show that the Union Sport et Cycle chose to unveil the figures from the cycle observatory. Each year, this report provides market trends and reveals sales figures across the entire country. Like the previous year, the 2024 financial year is not marked by success. The bicycle industry is struggling to maintain the levels posted during the Covid period and the year that followed. This results in a 5.9% drop in turnover, or €3.232 billion.
In detail, the 2024 results are no more reassuring regarding the state of the French market. The drop in turnover is obviously linked to a decrease in sales estimated at 8.3% by the Cycle Observatory. Sales of accessories and spare parts are also down 2.2% in value. The only positive point in the report: repairs, which increased by 4.3%.
Electric bicycles no longer hold any illusions
If we look even further, sales of new bicycles are the most affected (-12% in volume), but the decline is more limited in value. The reason? A rise in the average price of a bicycle sold in France, which is approaching 2,000 euros. This explosion in prices (the average was around 1,000 euros in 2019) is due to the development of electric bicycles. However, for the first time in several years, the market share of electric bicycles is not increasing. They represent 29% of sales volume, which is equivalent to 58% of the market value.
Among e-bikes, while urban models, electric hybrid bikes, and electric mountain bikes represent the majority of sales, it is electric cargo bikes (+5%) and road and gravel bikes (+33%) that show the greatest growth. However, these figures must be tempered to the extent that we are talking about a quantity relatively reduced.
Second-hand to the rescue of the industry
If one element particularly stands out from this 2025 report from the cycle observatory, it concerns more a change in consumer habits. Indeed, the study demonstrates a real progression of the second-hand market. Admittedly, it is "only" about 160,000 bicycles, but this figure represents a significant progression of 9%.
Despite a rather gloomy assessment, the discourse of cycle officials in France is anything but defeatist. André Ghestem, director of the Cycle and Active Mobility Commission of the Union Sport et Cycle, commented on the report's findings, noting that cycling contributes to the good health of the French and has saved the Ministry of Health some €200 million. Indeed, the government's gradual withdrawal, which has reduced aid (ecological bonus) and infrastructure projects, can only be seen as a blow to a sector that represents more than 20,000 jobs. It is therefore no coincidence that the entire sector is now calling for a new cycling plan, a support policy from which everyone would benefit.
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