Germany’s bicycle industry recorded a second consecutive annual decline in revenue and direct employment in 2025, according to a new industry study by T3 Transportation Think Tank commissioned by Zukunft Fahrrad.

The study found that 74,300 people were directly employed across the industry’s manufacturing, trade and services sectors in 2025, down from 76,700 in 2024. Employment declined by 5% in manufacturing and 3% in trade, while employment in the services sector remained relatively stable at around 6,000.

The industry generated €25.2 billion in revenue in 2025, compared with €27.2 billion in 2024. Revenue reached a peak of €29.3 billion in 2023, while the figure was €16.5 billion in 2019. Both revenue and employment declined for the second consecutive year in 2025.

By sector, manufacturing revenue declined by 2% in 2025, while trade revenue fell by 10%. According to Zukunft Fahrrad, growing workshop services helped cushion some of the pressure. Within the services sector, revenue from company-bike leasing (Dienstradleasing) declined by 10%, while the refurbished used-bike business recorded growth.

The study estimates that the bicycle economy supported more than 198,000 jobs in Germany in 2025 when direct, indirect and induced employment effects are included. According to SAZbike, the total comprises 74,300 direct jobs, 71,300 indirect jobs generated through purchased goods and services, and 52,500 induced jobs resulting from consumer spending.

Zukunft Fahrrad said that demand in the German bicycle market remained stable in 2025, but companies continued to face higher costs linked to geopolitical developments, lower prices and, in some cases, high inventory levels.

Wasilis von Rauch, Managing Director of Zukunft Fahrrad, called for stronger political support, including more effective market surveillance and stronger customs enforcement. He also pointed to competitive pressure from China, which, according to Zukunft Fahrrad, is putting downward pressure on prices and could threaten the leading position of the German and European bicycle industry.

Zukunft Fahrrad’s statements regarding Chinese competition, including its references to alleged hidden subsidies, exchange-rate manipulation and prices below production costs, represent the association’s position and policy argument rather than independently established findings of this report.

The study was prepared by T3 Transportation Think Tank on behalf of Zukunft Fahrrad and examines employment and revenue in Germany’s bicycle industry in 2025 in comparison with previous years.

Photo: Zukunft Fahrrad