Much Bigger than Expected Drop in 09 Bike Sales in Germany

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany – Last year the economic crisis has had a much bigger negative influence on bike sales in Germany than was expected by the country’s industry association ZIV (Zweirad –Industrie-Verband).

Last September the ZIV said; “We expect a year-end decline of 5 to 6%.” It turned too be much worse. 2009 domestic deliveries of bicycles dropped twice as hard as predicted; by 12%!

Yesterday, at a press conference which was held together with Eurobike organizer Messe Friedrichshafen, ZIV- managing director Siegfried Neuberger (photo) reported that next to the difficult economic climate also the long and cold winter contributed to the 12% drop in domestic deliveries of new bicycles.

Despite this double-digit drop, he was able to report that the total turnover in bikes showed an increase and that the IBD-share of that turnover rose considerably; with 5% to a total market share of 68%. Next to an increase in quality awareness, the growth in turnover is contributed to a rise in sales of expensive e-Bikes.

Other key indicators for the 2009 bike market in Germany show that domestic production dropped 7% to 2.25 million units. However, thanks to a larger demand for high-end bikes the total value of the in Germany produced bikes upped 4.4% to € 642 million. A big part of the in Germany produced bikes were exported; 1,050,000 units to be precise which was 9% more than one year earlier.

2009 bike import into Germany stood at 2.64 million units; 9% down on the 2008 figure. Biggest exporting countries to Germany are Taiwan with 404,000 units; followed by Thailand with 363,000 and Poland with 273,000.

What stood out last year in Germany were electric bikes. Here sales were not affected by the crisis. Quite the contrary even; 36% more were sold compared to 2008. 150,000 were sold while ZIV expects for this year a further growth to 180,000 units. ZIV- managing director Siegfried Neuberger anticipates that 2010 will also for regular bicycles be a good year; in case the economic situation will not deteriorate further; he said at yesterday’s press conference.