For the first time, electric bikes outsell regular bikes in Belgium

For the first time ever, more electric bicycles were sold in Belgium than regular bicycles. According to an initial estimate by the mobility association Traxio, e-bikes reached a market share of 51.2 per cent in 2023.

"The Belgian bicycle market is a stable, growing market after the chaos of the covid-19 period," says Traxio spokesman Filip Rylant. After an initial shortage, there were suddenly too many bikes in stock last year. As a result, dealers gave more discounts. "But now we are back in a healthy situation with a good balance."

Bicycle sales in general were down 12.9 per cent compared to the record year of 2022. However, the 606,017 bikes sold in 2023 still represent an increase on the pre-covid period.

Sports bicycles included

E-bike sales have grown very rapidly over the past year, according to Traxio, partly because bikes have become more important for commuting. The growth also includes electric sport bikes: 8,154 were sold last year, compared to 4,697 in 2022.

Sales of mountain bikes, on the other hand, fell sharply: 54,096 units were sold in 2023, compared with 88,943 in 2022. Consumers are increasingly opting for a gravel bike, which is a mix of a classic road bike and an off-road mountain bike. Last year, 19,225 gravel bikes were sold, compared to 17,664 in 2022.

^{© BELGA PHOTO SISKA GREMMELPREZ}