Year After NBA Legend LeBron James Introduced German E-Bikes to the States, Sales in Germany Skyrocket

Technology is constantly evolving. Man is always on the brink of the next big thing; the new way of making life convenient. However, in more recent times, we have had to learn to thrive and adapt in an increasingly intense climate crisis. In turn, our innovative focus has also shifted towards making steps towards helping the planet. Consequently, e-transport has become a rapidly growing sector, especially across the West. In fact, Germany will soon become the first country in the world to see more e-bike sales than regular bike sales in 2023.

Even NBA superstar Lebron James has invested over $30 million in Canyon Bicycles, which have increased their production of e-bikes at a variety of price points. Many believe that going green could involve fewer electric vehicles and more pedal power.

E-Bike Spike in Germany

German automakers are also very clued in about this e-bike spike. Both Porsche and Audi have already released their own e-bikes. Still, these companies’ price tags are much higher compared to many of the higher-end models from bike brands. Regardless, the German consumer is seeing a steady and definite shift from cars to electric cars and even replacing their vehicles in favor of e-bikes. E-bike sales nearly touched $4 billion in 2022.

Read More: Woman Reciprocates in Quick Action After E-Bike Collides with Child While Cycling

Germany has now become Europe’s largest overall market for bicycles. However, the country still imports its e-bikes from China. Still, with fairly heavy duties imposed on Chinese imports, e-bike producers in Europe have been relatively shielded from a Chinese-dominated market. However, Lebron’s recent investment in Canyon indicates an ambition to potentially introduce e-bikes in the American market.

On average, an e-bike in Germany costs nearly $3,000, making leasing a popular option. That’s why even big companies are getting into the lucrative business of leasing. Recently, Volkswagen recently teamed up with Pon, a Dutch company, in a venture focused on leasing bicycles to workers via their employers. The company is also likely looking to expand in Europe and the United States.

Is this the next trend?

Meanwhile, companies producing parts for these automobiles are also seeing big profits. For long, Bosch had been a leading supplier of powertrains and other technology for German automakers. Now, the company is a major supplier of batteries, motors, and brakes for e-bikes. Technology originally developed for cars, such as anti-lock breaks, is now being used in e-bikes.

Recent reports claim that sales of e-bikes in Germany would outstrip sales of ‘analog’ bikes in the country in 2023. Already, almost 90% of all mountain bikes sold were e-bikes. However, this has been a long time coming. Since 2019, German e-bike sales have increased by 70%, with nearly double the revenue. The German Bicycle Industry Association added that 1.72 million e-bikes were produced in Germany in 2022. It’s likely that the rest of Europe will catch up with Germany’s e-bike frenzy. Meanwhile, the US e-bike sales rose by 30% in 2022 to 1.3 million. This likely signals a shift in the way Americans view their transport options.

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