E-bikes bring value to challenged market

Although the March Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) data points to sustained improvements in new incoming order levels and the own purchasing levels of bicycles, the assessment of the current industry situation remains poor or average at best. Business sentiment has failed to recover from the drop following Eurobike 2025.

Bicycle and e-bike exports from Cambodia soared by 69% in January this year. The export value reached $64 million (€55 million), up from $38 million (€33 million) in January 2025, according to the country's Ministry of Commerce. Bolstered by improved market access, regional supply integration and a competitive manufacturing base poised for further expansion, Cambodia's bicycle industry has entered 2026 on a solid footing. The growth of e-bike assembly is undoubtedly playing a major role as well.

If you look hard enough, there have been some positives in recent business news for the cycling industry — from the growth of key e-commerce retailers and the resilience of premium brands to positive sales recovery signals in the market. In this new study, Shift Media Leaderboard shares key trends in consumer interest: which products are consumers searching for?

The Czech industry just can't seem to regenerate the local e-MTB market. Czechs are primarily focused on off-road e-bike use, and e-MTB models were a strong segment in 2025, but this category is still threatened and burdened by the ongoing sales crisis since 2023. Still, there are positive signs coming from this important production base for the EU market.