Accell: Huge Increase in e-Bike Sale

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands – E-Bikes and/or pedelecs are becoming the biggest money-maker in Accell Group’s portfolio. At last week’s press conference on the half year financial results of the holding company of European and US bike brands, CEO René Takens was able to report a huge increase in the sale of such bikes.

The increase stood at 25%. Takens did not want to reveal the total number of e-Bikes sold by all the Accell companies. However, taking into account estimates made by e-Bike specialists, it is said that Accell managed to sell more than 50,000 units during the first six months while total sales for the whole of 2008 is estimated to reach 80,000 pedelecs.

Accell is so successful in selling electric bikes that it has: “A somewhat dampening effect on the sale of regular bicycles,” says the company’s official statement on the first half year results. Accell sold 573,000 bikes during the first six months; was 561,000 during the same period in 2007. The growth in electric bike sale also had a favourable effect on the average price of the bikes sold by Accell.  That average price increased by 9.3% to € 413.

The Dutch Dealer association BOVAG expects that in Holland 2008 e-Bikes sales will increase to 120,000 units (was 89,000 in 2007 and 45,000 in 2006). The pedelec share in total bike sales during the first half of 2008 is about 10%.

Best selling e-Bike sold out

Bike Europe reported last June that Accell’s best selling pedelec – the Sparta ION – was already sold out. Asked about what the effect will be on second half year sales, Takens said: “That they are sold out is not entirely correct. It is true that new orders for the Sparta ION will have to wait before delivery takes place. However, there are still Sparta ION’s available at our dealers.

Next to that we are currently producing more electric bikes. In our statement on the financial results it is said that our stocks are higher as a result of parts that are purchased to increase the production of electric bikes in the summer months of June, July and August. These parts are en route or already in stock. The effect on higher stocks for the production of electric bikes is about € 6 million at the end of June 2008. So, our electric bikes will again be available this fall.”