Eurobike 2024 debrief: 5 key takeaways from the show

Once again, Eurobike became the hotspot for the global bicycle industry. We were on-site and explored the exhibition halls in Frankfurt am Main. Here’s our Eurobike 2024 debrief… 

Last week, Eurobike took place already for the 32nd time. And once again, the German trade show proved itself as the leading bicycle exhibition worldwide. In total, more than 1,800 companies from more than 60 countries showcased their product innovations. Additionally, 35,080 trade visitors (2023: 34,750) and an additional 33,090 bike fans (2023: 31,840) strolled through the exhibition halls in Frankfurt am Main, which means that the visitor numbers significantly surpassed last year’s.

One reason for this success might have been the excellent organisation, as the team around the show organiser Fairnamic enhanced the event with a vibrant programme for both industry professionals and cycling enthusiasts. Another reason could be the numerous bicycle trends showcased, as there was plenty to see in Frankfurt. That’s why we decided to compile the most significant trends for anyone who couldn’t attend the five-day event in Germany, ensuring you stay informed about the key highlights.

1. eBikes, eBikes and more eBikes

Indeed, the economic situation in the bicycle industry remains challenging in 2024. This sentiment was echoed by many attendees at Eurobike. However, many experts still gave a positive summary of the event, mainly because of the ongoing e-bike boom. While sales numbers have recently stalled, the higher average prices of eBikes compared to standard bicycles are helping to limit revenue losses.

Germany, the host country of Eurobike, is the best example. On the show’s first day, the German industry association ZIV (Zweirad-Industrie-Verband) presented its market data for this year’s spring. From January to April 2024, sales to end customers in the German eBike market remained nearly stable compared to the previous year. For the first months of 2024, ZIV reports eBike sales of 800,000 units, a slight decrease of just 1.23% from the same period last year (810,000). Starting in 2025, the association expects a significant recovery and indicates that sales are still above pre-COVID levels.

2. Cargo Bikes are more present than ever

No matter which hall you walked through at Eurobike, eBikes were omnipresent. One category, though, attracted exceptional attention: cargo bikes. This was no surprise, as cargo bikes have been a growing market for years. The industry organisation Cycling Industries Europe provided supporting data and introduced the latest edition of their Manufacturers Survey. This survey indicated that European cargo bike sales grew from 97,500 units (2021) and 112,429 units (2022) to 115,511 units (2023).

This was evident at the fair through numerous new models. Prominent examples included the German manufacturer Velo de Ville’s new Loady, a longtail cargo bike. German brand Riese & Müller showcased its Carrie, a cargo bike with a frame made of 81% certified recycled aluminium. Ca Go, also a German brand, presented the CS200, an exceptionally versatile cargo bike. And the Taiwanese brand Tern Bikes showcased the Orox, an “out of the box” design concept that combines the features of an off-road and an e-cargo bike, resulting in an off-road cargo bike.

3. Smart product innovations

ChatGPT (no, we did not use it to write this article) and other AI applications are the talk of the town these days. The bicycle industry has also jumped on the smart technology bandwagon. This was particularly evident at this year’s Eurobike. Bosch held a major press event the day before the fair, declaring “connected biking” as the future. They also introduced the new Range Calculator, which incorporates AI for the first time in their app, providing more accurate range calculations.

In terms of AI bikes, New Urtopia certainly stood out. The Hong Kong-based company showcased an eBike equipped with ChatGPT, allowing users to have conversations with it. The Taiwanese computer specialist Acer also presented the “Ebii”, a particularly smart bike that can learn from its users’ riding habits. Also noteworthy are the companies Alps Alpine (Japan) and Hawkeye (USA), which use cameras to monitor the area behind the rider, analyse the images with AI, and provide more accurate danger warnings to users.

Not AI, but still noteworthy for its innovative technology: the ShadeTronic technology from Swiss eyewear manufacturer React uses solar cells, liquid crystals, and low-power electronics to change the lens colour in just 0.1 seconds. Additionally, Garmin (USA) introduced the Edge 1050, setting a new standard in bike computers. And the component specialist SRAM (USA) showcased the new Red AXS, the top-tier electric model in road bike gear systems.

4. Sustainability gets even more attention

Together with the economic situation and the countless eBike innovations, sustainability was probably the most significant topic at the fair. More companies than ever showcased climate- and environmentally-friendly initiatives. One standout was Giant Group with a transparent CO2 footprint calculation of the TCR model, a carbon race bike. The TCR generates 274 kg CO2e over its lifetime. Of this, 55.3% are attributed to materials, 42.6% to manufacturing, 0.4% to distribution, 1.5% to usage, and 0.5% to disposal.

Many companies also showcased their sustainability reports. Special mention is deserved for their efforts by Herrmans Bike Components (Finland), Riese & Müller (Germany), and Miranda Bike Parts (Portugal). The bicycle industry is making progress. Nonetheless, the sector still has a long way to go – this was also evident in conversations at Eurobike. And, as our Editor recently wrote, there’s some discussion whether bike shop customers are prepared to swallow higher costs for sustainable products in the current climate (though some argue that sustainable product does not have to actually be more expensive).

5. Focus on Supply Chain Management

As part of the industry’s sustainability efforts, supply chains and their transparency and accessibility were also topics of discussion. Several start-ups at the fair were focused on this. Noteworthy is NOCA Mobility (Germany), a company advocating for safe and efficient article and transaction data sharing across company borders for seamless processes along resilient supply chains. Another highlight was Bike Matrix (New Zealand), a start-up addressing the compatibility issues of components in the bicycle industry.

Supply chains are likely to receive even more attention in the future – this was also evident on the sidelines of the fair. Increasingly stringent regulations, such as the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive or the German Supply Chain Act, will have a growing impact on the bicycle industry. Therefore, the focus on sustainability, particularly in supply chains, is likely to increase in the coming years.

Like James Bond, Eurobike will return – over Wednesday 25 June to Sunday 29 June 2025.

Words & pictures: Werner Müller-Schell [Main pic Eurobike and fairnamic]