The cargo bike market - France (2023)

1.2 A fast-growing global market

The global cargo bike market was estimated at $*** million in ****, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of *% to ****.

Global cargo bike market size projections World, **** - ****, in $ millions Source: ****

This growth is driven by a growing interest in recreational activities. This segment is also benefiting from urbanization, rising living standards in emerging countries and global environmental awareness. Cargo bikes enable people and goods to be moved without emitting pollutants, unlike other means of transport traditionally used to move goods[***].

The European market will account for the largest share of the global cargo bike market in ****, with **.*%. This is due to the strong presence of infrastructure, as well as the many established e-bike manufacturers who are increasingly turning their attention to cargo bikes. In addition, European governments are joining forces to reduce air pollution on their territory, offering subsidies and incentives to stimulate the production and marketing of cargo bikes. In March ****, the European Cyclists' Federation (***) launched a Cargo Bike Friendly Cities Indicator to assess the accessibility of cargo bikes in over *** European cities[***].

1.3 The European market leads the way

To study the outlook for the European market, we use a survey carried out by CCCB (***) on ** European cargo bike companies.

Survey of ** European cargo bike vendors: market outlook Europe, ****-*****, in number of bikes sold Source: ****

The graph above shows the market growth outlook. Sales volumes continue to grow year on year for the ** companies that took part in the survey.the estimated volume growth rate for **** is **.*%, less than twice that of the previous year, estimated at **.*%. It's important to remember that the figures given in the graph above are for the ** companies surveyed, which represent around **% of the European market. Cargo bike sales in Europe are therefore in the region of ***,*** to ***,*** models sold.

Another sign of the European market's strong growth is that, in ****, only one company had sold more than *,*** cargo bikes, while in **** there were six.

Countries most cited as the most important European market among the ** survey participants Europe, ****, in number of mentions Source: ****

Among all European countries, those that appear to be most dynamic in the cargo bike market are Belgium, Germany and then France, according to the results of the same survey in ****.belgium's score is the result of effective political and ...

1.4 A very dynamic French market

Although cargo bikes have been around for many years, it's the electrification process that's giving them a new lease of life these days, along with the support of local authorities.for example, the Ile-de-France region has launched three models (***). The cities of Grenoble, Strasbourg and Nantes also offer them for hire.

The cargo bike industry grew significantly in France between **** and ****, multiplying its sales by ten in five years. From *.* million euros in ****, it reached an estimated **.* million euros in ****, testifying to the growing popularity of these bikes on the French market.

sales trends for the cargo bike industry in France France, **** - ****, in € millions Source: ****

The growing demand for bikes on the French market is having a significant impact on the economy, generating a growing number of jobs in the sector. In ****, the industry created *** full-time jobs (***), and this figure is estimated at *** FTEs for ****, an increase of around sixty jobs, testifying to the dynamic development of this sector.

In ****, France sold **,*** cargo bikes (***) were manufactured locally.production of bicycle components in France is mainly divided between wheels and frames or chassis. **% of wheels and **% of frames/chassis produced for these bikes are made in France. However, local production is ...

1.5 A trade balance heavily weighted towards imports

According to theCycle **** Observatory, **% of cargo bikes sold in **** were manufactured in France, corresponding to *,*** units. France is therefore a major importer in this sector. Unfortunately, we do not have access to French foreign trade figures for the very specific cargo bike sector.s by customs tariff number ******, which covers"Motorcycles, including mopeds, and cycles with auxiliary motor, propelled by an electric motor"[***]. Although this sector is broader than the market we're interested in, studying French imports and exports will give us the main trends in the electric cargo bike market, which will give us trends in the wider cargo bike market.

French exports from France, **** - ****, in millions of $ Source: ****

French exports continue to rise in value, the Covid effect is not even observable. **** was an exceptional year with $***.* million worth of products exported (***). The value of exports has more than tripled in just six years, a sign of the market's significant development in France and its increasingly central role internationally.

French exports from France, **** - ****, in thousands of tons Source: ****

Exports in volume logically follow the same trends. While the value of products exported between **** and **** rose by ***.*%, the number of units exported increased by ***.*% over the same period. ...

2.1 Cargo bike uses and users

Bicycles are the best-selling means of transport in France, just ahead of scooters and cars.

Most popular means of transport in France France, ****, in Source: ****

According to a report published byAdeme in April ****, **% of French households own at least one bicycle. Of these, **% have at least one conventional bicycle. What's more, **% of households are equipped with at least one electric-assist bike, a proportion that has risen considerably since ****, when it was just *%.a quarter of regular cyclists adopted this practice less than two years ago, a growth clearly accelerated by the context of the health crisis. This upward trend in bicycle use was already perceptible in previous years, but the current situation has led to a noticeable acceleration.

Bicycle use in France has increased in recent years, mainly for leisure and sport. In fact, **% of French people use them for walks and strolls, while **% use them for sporting purposes. However, **% of French people use it sometimes to get to their non-work activities, and **% of working people use it to get to their place of work or study. This represents around **% of the total French population. The advantage of the cargo bike is that it can be used for leisure (***), but also ...

2.2 Home delivery in the city, a growth segment for cargo bikes

E-commerce is undergoing a period of significant growth, particularly in the wake of the health crisis. According to the Fevad (***) **** report, the sector has recorded solid growth, with total sales of ***.* billion euros, an increase of **.*% compared to ****[Francenum.as a result, withurbanization facilitating delivery by cargo bike, the development of short circuits and digital technology, these figures are set to rise further in the future. This raises the issue of the ecological transition of cities and regions. While the logistics flows of major retailers are fairly well organized, the fact remains that the last mile and flows between individuals are more difficult to manage in terms of carbon footprint.

Nevertheless, solutions to improve last-mile delivery are multiplying, and should mature in the years to come. The rise of electrically-assisted cargo bikes seems a good alternative. The ideal solution for reducing the carbon footprint of delivery is obviously to replace vehicles that emit greenhouse gases with clean vehicles, in particular bicycles and electric-assist bicycles.

this has been the model proposed by home food delivery startups such as Deliveroo and Ubereats. To be effective, however, a certain volume of vehicles must be guaranteed, particularly to optimize journeys. This change in usage could ...

2.3 Year-round bicycle use

If bicycles are now present in more than half of all French households (***), it's thanks to the diversification of their uses. While the leisure bike is still mainly used in summer, its daily use for utility purposes is becoming increasingly popular, and the"velotaf", the practice of using one's bike to go to work, continues to attract new users. In ****, for example, the number of people who use their bikes to go to work is set to rise by **%. What's more, a quarter of all cyclists have been cycling for less than two years, illustrating the current boom in cycling in France, a trend that is of course benefiting cargo bikes.

For you, cycling is a means of transport... France, ****, in Source: ****

**% of those questioned believe that cycling is a means of transport that will grow, and this is the case with the arrival of increasingly sophisticated electric cargo bikes on the market.

The Plateforme Nationale des Fréquentations(***), created in **** by Vélos & Territoires and reissued annually, provides information on the number of cyclists on French routes and their cycling practices, using *,*** counters installed across the country. We will be using the **** edition to understand the latest practices. It ...

2.4 The key role of the public sector

The public sector has an important role to play in the development of the bicycle sector in France, which is not yet the case according to **% of French people.

In your opinion, does France encourage the use of bicycles as a means of transport? France, ****, in Source: ****

To remedy this situation, the respondents rank the types of assistance the State could provide as follows.

For each of the following measures, do you think it's a good idea? France, ****, in Source: ****

Respondents consider that the best measure would be to develop bicycle paths, in both rural and urban areas.

Developing bike lanes:

with the right infrastructure, it is possible to promote this mode of travel, particularly for daily commutes to work.Many cities have set up specific structures for this purpose, notably through a much denser structural cycle network (***) .

Development of cycle paths Île-de-France, ****-****, in km Source: ****

Île-de-France's cycling policy is bearing fruit. Measures have been implemented since the early ****s by local authorities and the regional council, and have resulted in a significant increase in linear cycling (***).

Similarly, in the city of Lyon since ****, the deployment of bicycle facilities has been on the order of ** kilometers per year . thanks ...

3.1 Company and production structure

Source: ****

The boom in electric cargo bikes in France has led to an increase in the number of players in this sector. The best-known are Douze Cycles, O*Feel, Moustache and Kiffy, which offer a high-end range of electric cargo bikes for professionals and individuals. Yuba, a Franco-American brand, popularized its first electric cargo bike in **** and sold over *,*** units by ****. Gaya, a French brand, offers electric cargo bikes with a retro design. EAV France, a subsidiary of a British manufacturer, makes electric three-wheelers for city-center deliveries[***].

In terms of bicycle components, Cyclezee produces aluminum frames, E-Totem designs batteries and Sturmey-Archer France manufactures hubs with integrated gears. French production accounts for **% of wheels and **% of frames, with the remainder imported.

Major retailers are also starting to market this type of cargo bike, such as Décathlon with the French brand Oklö.

3.2 Overview of the French market

In ****, *,*** cargo bikes manufactured in France were sold. Most of these were three-wheelers or tricycles, accounting for **.*% of volumes produced.

Number of cargo bikes or trailers produced in **** France, ****, in units Source: ****

Next in line are two-wheelers (***), which are integrated into cargo bikes. The cargo bike sector has been gaining in popularity for several years now, and continues to grow, employing more and more people. ** manufacturers were identified by Les boites à vélo, but of these ** players, only ** responded to the survey conducted. The figures given in the grpahiques below therefore correspond only to these ** respondents.

number of full-time equivalent jobs in the cargo bike industry France, **** - ****, in number of jobs Source: ****

The number of jobs in the cargo bike industry will reach *** in ****, so this sector is still a niche within the bicycle industry. The table below lists French cargo bike manufacturers by region.

The Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region has the most manufacturers, with ** companies.

3.3 Distribution focused on retailers and multisport chains

By ****, the French market for VAE (***) after VTCs.

Breakdown of EAB sales by product category France, ****, in % of volumes Source: ****

Retailers and multisport chains dominate distribution in the bicycle market. In terms of value, retailers account for **% of the market, ahead of multisport chains (***). In terms of volume, multisport chains dominate the market, with **% of volumes. In the case of VAEs more specifically, retailers are the market leaders, with **% in value and **% in volume. [***]

Market share of main distribution channels in the sale of VAEs, by value France, ****, in % [Union Sport & Cycle Source: ****

Market share of main distribution channels in sales of ECVs, by volume France, ****, in Source: ****

It's worth noting that many French manufacturers market their cargo bikes themselves, particularly given the small size of the market. However, they don't always have a physical store, which remains a factor of choice for many individual customers before purchasing such a bike. Online ordering is therefore convenient for those who know exactly which model they need, but it's no substitute for an advisor when questioning a potential purchase.

In fact, you won't find many cargo bikes on offer in large specialist sports retailers such as Intersport or Go-Sport. At Décathlon, on ...

3.4 Delivery market structure

With the cargo bike set to become an increasingly important part of the delivery process, it's worth taking a look at the structure of the current delivery market. France is the third largest e-commerce market in Europe and the sixth largest in the world, making it a significant opportunity for e-tailers looking to expand their business or export their products. In the delivery sector, a distinction is made between the big specialists, whose business has been established for several years, and the newcomers, who are generally start-ups trying to operate on a smaller scale, with innovative solutions of their own.

The giants and specialists in the French delivery sector are the following companies[***] :

Colissimo Chronopost DPD Mondial Relay Relais Colis DHL FedEx UPS GLS

The table below lists the main French start-ups and small businesses operating in the various parcel delivery sectors.

4.1 Typology of supply and price of cargo bikes

There are three main types of cargo bike, each designed for a different purpose, and listed in the table below:

For the prices shown in the table, we selected the top price in each category from the HollandBikes brand website, and used information from UFC Que Choisir and vélos-cargo.com.

4.2 Consistent average prices

Electric cargo bikes rank first among the most expensive e-bikes, with an average price of €*,*** in ****.

EAB price trends, by product category France, **** vs ****, in Source: ****

Electric cargo bikes come in a range of prices, depending on the model chosen. The initial cost for a simple two-wheeler without suspension is around €*,***. However, for a top-of-the-range model including a double battery and customized accessories, the price can rise to as much as €*,***[***].

The graph below shows the sales price of VAEs by distribution channel. We can see that :

retailers offer the most expensive bikes, with an average price of €*,*** supermarkets offer the least expensive bikes, with an average price of €***.

Evolution of EAB prices, by distribution channel France, **** vs ****, in Source: ****

4.3 Battery prices have a major impact on the final price

VAE batteries can vary in voltage. The most commonly used are ** and ** V. However, **.* and ** V batteries are also available. According toAvem, the four most common battery categories for electric-assist bicycles are as follows:

" Lead-acid or lead gel batteries (***) and a lifespan of around *** charge/discharge cycles

Nickel-metal hydride (***) and a lifespan of around *** charge/discharge cycles.

Lithium-ion (***) batteries cost between €*** and €***, and are currently found in most VAEs. Their maximum power is of the order of ****** Wh/kg and their weight is limited. The major drawbacks of this type of battery are its price and the risk of explosion if the electronics are poorly designed.

Lithium-polymer (***) batteries cost in excess of €***, have a maximum output of around *** Wh/kg and limited weight. In the event of overheating, they do not explode, but consume themselves. "

Currently, it takes between * and * hours to fully recharge an EV battery, so studies are underway, notably in Germany, to reduce this charging time to one hour[***].

4.4 Characteristics of different cargo bikes

Below is a more detailed typology of the different types of cargo bikes found on the French market, for both private and professional customers. However, cargo bikes for professionals can also be custom-designed, as offered on the ILI Cycles website.

Source: ****

5.1 Current regulations

The ISO **** standard

The ISO **** standard was introduced in **** and recently revised in ****. It defines all the terms and designations relating to safety and performance requirements for bicycles and bicycle-related sub-assemblies. These are important codifications to observe during design, assembly as well as testing. The bicycles concerned include

Young adult bikes with a saddle height between *** and *** mm; Racing bikes with a saddle height of *** mm or more; City and trekking bikes; Mountain bikes; Folding bicycles.

ISO **** does not apply to certain categories of bicycles. These range mainly from delivery bicycles to bicycles designed and equipped for more professional uses, such as acrobatics, stunts or regulated competitions. Nor does it apply to recumbent bicycles, BMXs or tandems.

Electric bike regulations

In addition to the regulations specific to the general world of cycling, there is a set of complementary requirements to which electrically-assisted bicycles must conform. These rules are defined by standard NF EN *****. This specifies that every electric bike must comply with the following points:

Motor power must be less than or equal to *** Watts; Motor assistance must cease above a maximum speed of ** km/h.

Electric assistance must only be activated when the rider is pedaling. It must be interrupted ...

5.2 Current lack of regulations for cargo bikes

According to Olivier Mouche-Boeuf, from Union Sport & Cycle (***), "there are as yet no European standards for three-wheeled cargo bikes, with or without electric assistance".

The industry is therefore working on the subject. In France, Afnor has already established a standard for "utility" bikes, NF*****, which includes static and dynamic stability tests.

Germany is also working on the subject, and at European level, a working group is due to harmonize this work to produce a European standard.

Thomas Coulbeaut, founder of Douze Cycles cargo bikes and a member of the group that worked on the French standard, says the subject is quite complex. Two-wheelers, long-tailers, three-wheelers... There are many different types of cargo bike, each with its own specific features. He estimates that it will take at least * years of work before a European standard can be drawn up. A standard which will then have to be officially incorporated into a regulation before becoming mandatory...

But in view of the market's meteoric evolution, such a standard is not far off.

6. Player segmentation

• Douze Cycles
• Nihola
• Kiffy O2SWITCH
• Cyclable
• Oklö
• Altermove (Mobivia Groupe)
• Cogepart
• Colis Privé
• Colisweb
• Stuart
• Yuba
• Toyota
• VUF Bikes
• Kleuster - Jean Lain Automobiles
• Calendar Bikes
• Arcade Cycles
• Gaya Bike
• Jhog
• Ligier Groupe