Organized by the Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center (CHC), with support from Wheel Giant, the Global Bicycle Sustainability Summit was held in Taichung on September 14. The forum brought together European and Taiwanese industry representatives to discuss market trends, bike leasing, illegal e-bikes, EU battery rules and future supply-chain cooperation.
European Markets Remain Uneven
Jan-Willem Van Schaik, Editor-in-Chief of Bike Europe, said Germany remains Europe’s largest and most influential e-bike market. In 2025, Germany sold approximately 3.8 million bicycles and e-bikes, including around two million e-bikes. Electric models accounted for 52.7% of total unit sales.
France sold approximately 1.84 million bicycles in 2025, including 507,000 e-bikes. In the Netherlands, total bicycle sales fell to 795,968 units, of which e-bikes accounted for around 49%, or approximately 390,000 units.
Italy recorded total bicycle sales of 1.303 million units, including 256,000 e-bikes. Belgium performed comparatively better, selling 578,737 bicycles, with electric models representing about 51%, or nearly 295,000 units.
The figures show that Europe should not be viewed as a single market. While Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium have high e-bike penetration, France and Italy continue to face weaker demand and pressure on specialist retailers.
Leasing Reshapes the Market
Bike leasing has become an increasingly important growth driver, particularly in Germany and Belgium. Employer-supported programmes make premium bicycles and e-bikes more accessible while generating opportunities for brands, dealers, finance providers and service networks.
However, leasing also changes purchasing cycles, pricing structures, residual values and after-sales responsibilities. Suppliers entering this market must therefore consider not only product specifications, but also maintenance, repairability, spare-parts availability and lifecycle costs.
Illegal E-Bikes Threaten Market Confidence
The growing number of illegally modified and non-compliant e-bikes is another major concern. Vehicles exceeding legal power or speed limits are often marketed as bicycles, creating safety risks and unfair competition while undermining public confidence in legitimate e-bikes.
The industry is calling for clearer product classifications, stronger market surveillance and closer cooperation among manufacturers, retailers, online platforms and authorities.
Compliance Must Begin Earlier
Paul Walsh, CEO of European Cycling Industries (ECI), said European policy is placing greater emphasis on traceability, repairability, circularity and verified sustainability data. The EU Battery Regulation and Digital Product Passport will require companies to provide more transparent information on battery materials, carbon footprint, responsible sourcing, performance and end-of-life management.
For suppliers, compliance can no longer be addressed only after product development is complete. Companies will need to engage earlier in regulatory planning, material selection, product design, carbon-data management and lifecycle strategy.
CHC briefly presented Taiwan’s battery-passport platform and related testing capabilities, while SGS outlined key compliance and supply-chain due-diligence requirements under the EU battery framework.
The summit’s central message was clear: Taiwan and Europe must move beyond the traditional buyer-supplier relationship. As Walsh stressed, the future should not be defined simply by “Made in Europe” or “Made in Taiwan,” but by making the right things together through earlier collaboration, shared data and joint responsibility across the product lifecycle.
