E-bike sales are soaring in Germany, and car makers are taking note

Germany is leading the way on e-bikes, with widespread adoption across the country. Research suggests that by the end of this year, Germany will have seen more e-bike sales than regular bike sales.

Given the high price of e-bikes, it's big business. According to the German Bicycle Industry Association, the average e-bike in Germany sold for €2,800, or around $2,900 / £2,400, and made up 48% of all bicycle sales in 2022. Subsequently, bicycle sales in Germany in 2022 hit a record high: €7.36 billion.

• Read more: How to replace your car with an e-bike

Meanwhile, a study by PWC predicts that vehicle ownership in Germany will fall by 25% in the next five years. As more and more people see how an e-bike can replace a car for the majority of journeys, it's inevitable that car sales will suffer.

Consequently, the car industry is realigning itself as a 'mobility' industry. In 2021, Germany's largest automobile show was rebranded as a 'mobility' show, and car manufacturers are turning their attention to e-bikes and micro-mobility.

VW, Audi, Mercedes and Porsche are among a growing number of car brands that have begun producing electric bikes in recent years.

• Read more: Cannondale enters the cargo e-bike market with two new bikes

It's good news that people in Germany are getting out of their cars and taking to two wheels, and begs the question of whether we'll see other nations following suit.

In that respect, there is more encouraging news in that a report by the National Bicycle Dealers Association shows that e-bike sales in the USA increased 33% between 2021 and 2022.

Want to know more about e-bikes? Read our complete guide to e-bikes here.