Consumers are increasingly purchasing bicycles in the higher price segment. For example, the share of bicycles above €2700 rose from 4 percent in 2017 to 19 percent in 2021.
The latest edition of 'Mobility in Figures Tweewielers 2022-23', an annual publication by RAI Association and BOVAG, shows that the number of e-bikes is increasing considerably. Consumers are increasingly purchasing bicycles in the higher price segment. For example, the share of bicycles above € 2700 rose from 4 percent in 2017 to 19 percent in 2021. From 2015, the number of e-bikes in the Netherlands has tripled to 3,4 million last year. The publication also shows that moped sales increased by almost 8 percent last year compared to 2020. The motorcycle remains popular and is increasingly popular with young adults between the ages of 18 and 35.
'Mobility in Figures Tweewielers' maps the Dutch market for bicycles, mopeds, light mopeds and motorcycles. Developments are also described that play a role in our neighboring countries and within Europe, such as sales and production numbers.
The Netherlands third country in Europe in terms of sales of e-bikes
Although the sale of new bicycles in our country fell by 2021 units in 175.000 compared to 2020, the Netherlands, after Germany and France, is the European number 3 in absolute numbers when it comes to purchasing e-bikes. The total number of electric bicycles in the Netherlands amounted to approximately 3,4 million last year. The popularity of the e-bike partly means that the Dutch spend more on the purchase of a new bicycle. For example, the share of bicycles above €2700 rose from 4 percent in 2017 to 19 percent in 2021. In addition to 'regular' e-bikes, the Netherlands also had 2022 speed pedelecs at the beginning of 28.098, more than 9.000 more than two years earlier. The total number of bicycles in the Netherlands amounted to 23,4 million last year, almost a third more than in 2000, when BOVAG and RAI Association issued an estimate for the first time.
Motorcycles and mopeds remain popular
The number of new light mopeds sold reached a peak year in 2020, partly due to corona measures in public transport, but a year later sales fell by 20 percent. In all likelihood, the forthcoming helmet requirement for moped riders will play a major role in this. The sale of new mopeds, on the other hand, increased by almost 2021 percent in 8 compared to 2020 and was almost 50 percent above the sales level of 2016. In 2021, more than 40 percent more new motorcycles were sold than in 2011. In 2021, this amounted to 15.277 engines. Motorcycles are also growing in popularity among young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 at 16 percent.
