Guide
E-biking to work: how to get the season off to a good start
by Martin Jungfer
Little desire for new bikes
24.3.2025
Translation: machine translated
In 2024, bike retailers ordered fewer new bikes and e-bikes from wholesalers than they had for a long time: just over 341,000. The market is still saturated from the coronavirus years.
The recently published figures are clear: in 2024, dealers ordered 14 per cent fewer new bikes and e-bikes than in 2023. The Swiss suppliers' association Velosuisse, which calculates these figures annually, speaks of a "consolidation phase". The "fantastic growth rates in the coronavirus years" will no longer be achieved. Back then, many people bought new bikes and especially e-bikes - partly due to a lack of alternatives in the leisure sector.
With a total of 341,000 bikes now delivered, the market is back to the level of 2018. 2020 and 2021 saw orders for around half a million bikes each year.
According to Velosuisse, the reasons for the decline are "a certain market saturation, cooled consumer sentiment and the completely rainy springs in the two previous years". This has contributed to the fact that "the high stock levels from
the high stock levels from the coronavirus re-deliveries could not be reduced to the desired extent". Or to put it another way: Retailers' warehouses are still full.
Trend towards the electric motor
The trend towards e-bikes continues unabated. Almost every second bike sold in 2024 was an e-bike. According to a study, one in three households in Switzerland now has an e-bike at home. The journey to employees is increasingly being made by e-bike.
In the sales statistics for 2024, the biggest increases were in e-gravel bikes, e-road bikes and e-cargo bikes. However, the absolute figures here are in the low four-digit range, which is why even a few hundred additional bikes sold make for impressive figures in percentage terms. Overall, "organic bikes" still accounted for the majority of sales in 2024 - at 55 per cent to 45 per cent.
Bikes for kids dominate at Galaxus
In 2024, Galaxus sold a low five-digit number of bikes over the virtual shop counter. Contrary to the trend in the industry as a whole, this was more than in 2023, although this also included bikes for the little ones, which are not included in the Velosuisse statistics.
"This year, we want to further improve our range of bikes and e-bikes for adults, including suitable services," says Gion Manetsch, Head of Category Management Sport & Toys.
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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