A total of 422,000 e-bike units were imported into the European Union in the first six months of 2026, the latest Eurostat data shows. This is up 36% from the same period in 2025. Unlike last year, China now supplies the lion's share of these imports. Year to date, China accounts for 41% of e-bikes entering the EU.

The European bicycle industry has continued its transition towards a more balanced and demand-driven market. Following the exceptional surge in demand during the Covid boom, supply chain disruptions, and the subsequent market correction, the latest 2025 data clearly indicate that the industry is stabilising. "This is a sign that the inventory troubles that we have had coming out of COVID are now finally at the end," said industry body ECI CEO Paul Walsh at the presentation of the 2026 Bicycle Industry & Market Profile (BIMP).

The tables are turning in favour of China as consumer budgets tighten, Taiwan's orders dwindle, and tariffs shift the goalposts of international trade. As a result, China accounted for 47%, almost half, of all e-bike imports into the European Union in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest Eurostat data. This compares with 31% in Q1 2025 and just 17% in Q1 2024. Is this the result of a temporary glut in the e-bike market, or does it signal a more structural shift?

2027 is already shaping up to be an interesting year on the bicycle industry tradeshow calendar as newcomers look to fill a void in Europe. One of those newcomers vying to offer a B2B platform for the bicycle industry supply chain is CycleExpo. OEM suppliers can now officially register for the first edition, which is scheduled to take place next year from 6 to 8 October in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Road and gravel bikes are among the categories that have started the year with positive momentum across Europe and the United States, while others, like the eMTB category, have seen a more challenging picture. This and more are reflected in the latest results from the Shift Leaderboard market and brand-tracking tool, which analyses search volume for over 25,000 different terms.

Riese & Müller, German premium e-bike manufacturer, has announced its withdrawal from the United States market, choosing to "reconcentrate its resources" on developing its European sales and dealer network. Despite the recent positive policy developments for the US bicycle industry, the overall volatility of the nation's import market appears to have claimed another victim.