Source: Bike Europe

Latest Eurostat data indicates a significant shift towards China as a major exporter of e-bikes to the European Union, accounting for 47% of all imports in the sector from the first quarter of 2026. Former market leader, Taiwan, has seen its EU export market share drop substantially.

A total of 186,000 e-bikes were imported into the EU between January and March 2026, which represents an increase of 42% compared with the same period in 2025. The unit import volume is the highest first-quarter figure since 2023, and the highest of any quarter since Q3 2024. In contrast, just 23% of e-bikes imported to the EU in Q1 originated from Taiwan; back in 2020, Taiwan dominated the market with a market share of 53%.

The quantity of Chinese imports amounted to 88,000 in Q1 2026, compared to 41,000 units (31%) in Q1 2025. Information on the type of e-bikes being imported is not recorded in the Eurostat data, however the import value data suggests that items imported from China are in the lower-end segment, with an average import value of €329 per unit. This is in striking contrast to the import value of units from Taiwan, averaging €1,709 per unit in Q1.

This lower import value has affected the overall import value of e-bikes imported, with value growing just 6% to €144 million, despite the increased import volume. Bike Europe states that this shift is being driven by growing demand for affordable e-bikes in markets such as Poland.