E-bike demand holds firm as dealers focus on service

Demand for electric bikes remains strong in Austria, despite concerns that the market may be saturated after years of growth, ORF reported. At least one in two new bicycles now has an electric motor, while the recent bankruptcy of GS E-Bike GmbH in Fürnitz has raised questions about how many more e-bikes the industry can sell.

About 223,000 e-bikes were supplied to Austrian retailers last year, accounting for 57 percent of all bicycles. Among adult bikes, the share was nearly 70 percent.

Christian Tyl, spokesperson for sports retailers at the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce, said the e-bike share had risen from 40 percent before the coronavirus pandemic to nearly 70 percent and was now stable. There has been no downturn in e-bikes, he said. Bicycle sales in Austria have instead tended to rise in recent years, with trekking and gravel bikes also in demand.

Specialist retailers are continuing to report good business with electric mountain bikes this year. Service, repairs and leasing are becoming more important alongside sales of new bicycles. Tyl said modern e-bikes are complex technical devices that need regular maintenance and expert servicing locally.

Employer-backed bicycle leasing is also supporting the industry. More bikes are being financed through employers, and employees often choose e-bikes.