All indicators for the 2025 French market were negative. The total market volume decreased by 6%, while the revenue was down 4.8% year-on-year. The average retail price declined slightly, and the e-bike sales dropped 16%. This contraction comes amid a challenging economic environment but also reflects a more structural shift: the end of the post-Covid catch-up effect and the withdrawal of purchase incentives.
Decathlon S.A. reported steady growth in 2025, even as market development across the sporting goods and bicycle sectors remained uneven. The French retailer reports increased revenue and profitability. At the same time, limited disclosure around category-level performance, especially in cycling, leaves open questions about where that growth is coming from and how sustainable it may be.
GfK research in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium highlights four trends in purchasing behaviour and priorities when buying an e-bike. The e-bike is no longer just a recreational luxury but is increasingly becoming a serious mobility alternative that influences daily travel behaviour.
Fatbikes have been flagged by the Union des Entreprises Sport and Cycle (UESC) as the overwhelming source of non-compliant e-bikes on France's streets, accounting for 94%. The union published a report last month raising the alarm on the increasing number of vehicles marketed in France as e-bikes that do not comply with current regulations.
A recent consumer survey across Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands shows distinct differences in purchasing behaviour and e-bike-buying priorities.
Véligo Location is about to reach a new milestone in France. The public long-term e-bike rental service in the Ile-de-France region, launched in 2019, has unveiled a new fleet of 19 models that will be rolled out this year. The goal: support the growth of cycling in the region, broaden use cases and meet the expectations of a more diverse public, from commuting trips to the needs of families, tradespeople or people with disabilities.
