1.1 Definition and scope of the study

The cargo bike is a two- or three-wheeled land vehicle, sometimes electric, designed to carry heavier loads than a conventional bicycle. Cargo bikes are used for a variety of purposes, the most common of which are :

cargo bikes for urban cleaning;
food bikes (coffee bikes, waffle bikes, etc.);
Freight transport/delivery bikes.

The global cargo bike market has been growing exponentially for several years, currently valued at $900 million, and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 9% until 2032. In Europe alone, between 400,000 and 500,000 bikes were sold in 2022. Cargo bikes, most of them electric, meet a growing demand for new modes of transport in increasingly urbanized environments. Their popularity is also due to rising living standards and global environmental awareness.

The cargo bike market is also very dynamic in France, with a market size multiplied by more than ten in five years and 33,000 units sold by 2022. The majority of cargo bikes sold are electric and imported. The range is extremely varied, with models on average much more expensive than other electrically-assisted bicycles (EABs), and three-wheelers (cargo bikes with three wheels) are the biggest sellers.

There are no major players in the global cargo bike market, as the majority are SMEs. In France, the biggest player is Yuba, a Franco-Californian company, but new entrants are constantly arriving on the market, increasing the number of jobs.most of the companies offering cargo bikes originally specialized in electric bikes, and have recently diversified their offer in response to the boom in this new type of transport. Major retailers are just beginning to offer cargo bike models, such as Décathlon' s Oklö and Toyota' s Cargo Verso. However, the preferred distribution channels remain retailers.

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...