ZIV at the Eurobike 2024
The finest of innovations, compelling expert discussions and presentations and opportunities for in-depth discussions and cycling outdoors – all these were possible at the Eurobike 2024, which took place in Frankfurt am Main from 3 to 7 July 2024. The ZIV also had a prominent presence at this year’s leading international trade fair for the bicycle industry, with an inviting exhibition stand and the entire team in attendance.
ZIV market data update at event start
The association presented its market data for the first four months of 2024 on Tuesday, before the trade fair had even begun.
«The interest in bicycles and e-bikes remains. Hence sales will undoubtedly pick up and the production of bicycles and bicycle parts will also once again increase,» said the ZIV’s CEO Burkhard Stork. The ZIV expects the bicycle market to recover significantly from 2025.
That same evening, Burkhard Stork and Anke Schäffner, who is the ZIV’s Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer, participated in the Leaders’ Night – a fruitful event about transformation of the bicycle industry. Time for networking and exchanges was guaranteed while enjoying some good food and cool beverages.
«The interest in bicycles and e-bikes remains. Hence sales will undoubtedly pick up and the production of bicycles and bicycle parts will also once again increase,» said the ZIV’s CEO Burkhard Stork. The ZIV expects the bicycle market to recover significantly from 2025.
That same evening, Burkhard Stork and Anke Schäffner, who is the ZIV’s Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer, participated in the Leaders’ Night – a fruitful event about transformation of the bicycle industry. Time for networking and exchanges was guaranteed while enjoying some good food and cool beverages.
Trade fair tours: bringing the industry and policymakers together
One of the ZIV’s primary aims during the Eurobike is to familiarise political representatives with the many innovations in the industry and to make clear the industry’s importance for Germany as a location for innovation and business. As in previous years, countless tours were organised together with federal and state political representatives.
Henning Rehbaum, transport policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, was particularly impressed by the sustainability innovations presented by ZIV member company, Schwalbe. According to Schwalbe, 70 percent of the tyres produced today are already made from recycled materials. Stefan Grieger, Managing Director of the German Road Safety Council (DVR), accompanied the tour and was equally impressed by the industry’s innovative power and versatility. The ZIV member companies Paul Lange, Busch + Müller and Humpert/ergotec were also able to communicate this well to the political guests.
Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), engaged in lively discussions with company representatives during his tour. ZIV policy expert Anke Schäffner showed him a variety of innovations from the SME-oriented industry.
Ministerial Councillor Thomas Frisch and his colleagues from the Automotive Industry division of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) gained insights into the German and international bicycle industries. During the tour, stops were among others made at the ZIV member companies Mahle and Riese & Müller.
Petra Dick-Walther, Rhineland-Palatinate’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs, visited a number of exhibitors, along with the stands of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and Bikeleasing-Service GmbH during a tour organised by the ZIV that focused on companies in Rhineland-Palatinate. She was impressed by the wide range of products offered.
Hermann (Hermino) Katzenstein, who is a Eurobike regular and Green Party member of the Baden-Württemberg state parliament, was once again at the trade fair this year to learn about the latest innovations and business developments at companies in his region. Isabell Merkle, who works in the office of transport expert and member of the Bundestag, Swantje Michaelsen, also participated in the tour.
Robert-Martin Montag, who is a member of the FDP parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament, is a regular visitor to the Eurobike and was of course once again our guest this year. Accompanied by his team, he asked very specific questions and gained countless impressions – and requests to policymakers – from manufacturers and suppliers.
Henning Rehbaum, transport policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, was particularly impressed by the sustainability innovations presented by ZIV member company, Schwalbe. According to Schwalbe, 70 percent of the tyres produced today are already made from recycled materials. Stefan Grieger, Managing Director of the German Road Safety Council (DVR), accompanied the tour and was equally impressed by the industry’s innovative power and versatility. The ZIV member companies Paul Lange, Busch + Müller and Humpert/ergotec were also able to communicate this well to the political guests.
Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), engaged in lively discussions with company representatives during his tour. ZIV policy expert Anke Schäffner showed him a variety of innovations from the SME-oriented industry.
Ministerial Councillor Thomas Frisch and his colleagues from the Automotive Industry division of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) gained insights into the German and international bicycle industries. During the tour, stops were among others made at the ZIV member companies Mahle and Riese & Müller.
Petra Dick-Walther, Rhineland-Palatinate’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs, visited a number of exhibitors, along with the stands of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and Bikeleasing-Service GmbH during a tour organised by the ZIV that focused on companies in Rhineland-Palatinate. She was impressed by the wide range of products offered.
Hermann (Hermino) Katzenstein, who is a Eurobike regular and Green Party member of the Baden-Württemberg state parliament, was once again at the trade fair this year to learn about the latest innovations and business developments at companies in his region. Isabell Merkle, who works in the office of transport expert and member of the Bundestag, Swantje Michaelsen, also participated in the tour.
Robert-Martin Montag, who is a member of the FDP parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament, is a regular visitor to the Eurobike and was of course once again our guest this year. Accompanied by his team, he asked very specific questions and gained countless impressions – and requests to policymakers – from manufacturers and suppliers.
Capital for our industry
On Wednesday and Thursday, ZIV representatives Burkhard Stork and Jule Stoll presented the vast economic power and tremendous future potential of the bicycle industry to potential investors during the Eurobike Investors’ Lounge. Fascinating perspectives were shared on the industry’s dynamic economic development in recent years and confident outlooks voiced for the future, underpinned by the ZIV’s market data exclusively for the industry. The industry is still considered very attractive as it is a growth market and a stable harbour for private capital.
Business programme: ZIV experts in high demand
As part of the Cargo Academy, ZIV technology expert Tim Salatzki provided an introduction to the legal regulations for e-bikes and cargo bikes. It became clear during the panel discussion that the bicycle industry must play an active role in shaping the future legal framework. It will be important to define the category of electric bicycles very clearly, above all to ensure a distinction from vehicles that should no longer be classified as electric bicycles due to their design (size, weight, speed).
Current challenges and transition periods were reviewed during the panel discussion on the EU Batteries Regulation. The focus is currently on the ability to remove and replace LMT batteries as well as on battery passports and the corresponding labelling. ZIV representative Tim Salatzki discussed with Daniela Leveratto (CONEBI), Christopher Fietzek (Panasonic Industry Europe GmbH) and Friederike Pischnick (Bosch eBike Systems).
Current challenges and transition periods were reviewed during the panel discussion on the EU Batteries Regulation. The focus is currently on the ability to remove and replace LMT batteries as well as on battery passports and the corresponding labelling. ZIV representative Tim Salatzki discussed with Daniela Leveratto (CONEBI), Christopher Fietzek (Panasonic Industry Europe GmbH) and Friederike Pischnick (Bosch eBike Systems).
Salatzki also gave a presentation on progress to date on the standardised charging system for e-bikes known as the Charge2Bike standard. A working group, the CHAdeMO consortium, has been formed to develop the basis for a standardised charging system for e-bikes. Shimano, Yamaha, Panasonic, Brose and Bosch are among the suppliers of e-bike drive systems involved in development of the charging solution. The system consists of a plug (and socket) and the corresponding communication protocol. Adapter solutions also allow the existing systems of different manufacturers already on the market to be charged with a standardised CHAdeMO charger. Many milestones have been reached in the project over the past year. The standard has now been finalised, the first prototypes have been built and the interoperability of the system has been proven.
ZIV’s representative for policy and advocacy, Anke Schäffner, hosted the eagerly anticipated sustainability panel on the topics of circularity, diversity and life cycle assessments/product environmental footprints (PEF) together with Alex Thun (Co-CEO, Alfred Thun). Freya Wood, Dan Liljeqvist, Sara Canali, Germain Lesur, Stefan Lier, Alice Icardi, Peter Wadseth, Paul Magne Amundsen and Alicia Boyano Larriba ensured a lively debate as panellists.
Together with the guests Martina Lohmeier (Professor of Mobility Management and Cycling at the University of Tübingen), Peter Roßteutscher (Hessian Ministry of Economics), Tomi Viiala (Stromer Bikes) and Fabian Mol (Municipality of Utrecht), a panel moderated by ZIV representative Anke Schäffner explored the question of where speed pedelecs are allowed to be ridden in different countries and what lessons could be learned for their use in Germany. The audience received insights into Professor Lohmeier’s study and information on the ongoing traffic trials in Hesse where the bicycle highway between Darmstadt and Frankfurt am Main was recently also opened to speed pedelecs.
As part of the Cargo Bike Academy, ZIV economic policy expert Katharina Hinse presented the German market data on cargo bikes and bike trailers. In addition to Kevin Mayne and Samuel Pierce from Cycling Industries Europe, two ZIV member companies were also represented: Croozer by Andreas Gehlen and Riese + Müller by Timo Gührer. All participants emphasised the importance of cargo bikes and bike trailers in the mobility transition. Andreas Gehlen reminded that the popularity of bicycle trailers for transporting children and goods should not be forgotten and praised the ZIV for already collecting and publishing market data on bike trailers in the past two years.
The Bike Travel Forum on the Friday of the trade fair focused on the planned amendment of the German Federal Forest Act and the general framework conditions for cycle tourism. ZIV tourism expert Svenja Golombek reported on the current status of amendment of the legislation and the successful cross-association cooperation in the areas of sport, leisure, nature conservation and tourism. The ZIV and its fellow members of the Bike Nature Movement (BNM) are very keen to strengthen the position of cycling in leisure and tourism within the industry and among the general public.
ZIV’s representative for policy and advocacy, Anke Schäffner, hosted the eagerly anticipated sustainability panel on the topics of circularity, diversity and life cycle assessments/product environmental footprints (PEF) together with Alex Thun (Co-CEO, Alfred Thun). Freya Wood, Dan Liljeqvist, Sara Canali, Germain Lesur, Stefan Lier, Alice Icardi, Peter Wadseth, Paul Magne Amundsen and Alicia Boyano Larriba ensured a lively debate as panellists.
Together with the guests Martina Lohmeier (Professor of Mobility Management and Cycling at the University of Tübingen), Peter Roßteutscher (Hessian Ministry of Economics), Tomi Viiala (Stromer Bikes) and Fabian Mol (Municipality of Utrecht), a panel moderated by ZIV representative Anke Schäffner explored the question of where speed pedelecs are allowed to be ridden in different countries and what lessons could be learned for their use in Germany. The audience received insights into Professor Lohmeier’s study and information on the ongoing traffic trials in Hesse where the bicycle highway between Darmstadt and Frankfurt am Main was recently also opened to speed pedelecs.
As part of the Cargo Bike Academy, ZIV economic policy expert Katharina Hinse presented the German market data on cargo bikes and bike trailers. In addition to Kevin Mayne and Samuel Pierce from Cycling Industries Europe, two ZIV member companies were also represented: Croozer by Andreas Gehlen and Riese + Müller by Timo Gührer. All participants emphasised the importance of cargo bikes and bike trailers in the mobility transition. Andreas Gehlen reminded that the popularity of bicycle trailers for transporting children and goods should not be forgotten and praised the ZIV for already collecting and publishing market data on bike trailers in the past two years.
The Bike Travel Forum on the Friday of the trade fair focused on the planned amendment of the German Federal Forest Act and the general framework conditions for cycle tourism. ZIV tourism expert Svenja Golombek reported on the current status of amendment of the legislation and the successful cross-association cooperation in the areas of sport, leisure, nature conservation and tourism. The ZIV and its fellow members of the Bike Nature Movement (BNM) are very keen to strengthen the position of cycling in leisure and tourism within the industry and among the general public.
Non-stop networking: ZIV stand receptions
On Thursday, the Bike Nature Movement (BNM) hosted a reception at the ZIV stand. The BNM was launched by the ZIV together with the German initiative for mountain biking (DIMB) and the Mountain Bike Forum (MTF) with the support of the German bicycle industry. During the event, details of the initiative’s work were shared, along with its vision for 2030 and the political framework conditions for nature-friendly mountain biking.
The ZIV had already invited visitors to the trade fair stand of the Verbund Service Fahrrad (vsf) on Wednesday as part of the association evening – together with the Verband Zukunft Fahrrad and the German national cyclists’ association (ADFC), ensuring good discussions and a lively exchange of ideas. At the Women in Cycling breakfast on Friday morning, female ZIV staff networked with other female representatives from the industry, rounding off the networking activities in the packed trade fair itinerary.
Countless people visited the ZIV’s stand in Hall 8 and informed themselves about the German bicycle industry and the ZIV’s work and services. A number of companies expressed an interest in becoming a member. ZIV employees were also available to answer questions from a wider audience at the weekend, during the Festival Days. The exciting trade fair week full of meetings and talks simply flew by and the entire ZIV team is now already looking forward to meeting in Frankfurt am Main again in 2025.
The ZIV had already invited visitors to the trade fair stand of the Verbund Service Fahrrad (vsf) on Wednesday as part of the association evening – together with the Verband Zukunft Fahrrad and the German national cyclists’ association (ADFC), ensuring good discussions and a lively exchange of ideas. At the Women in Cycling breakfast on Friday morning, female ZIV staff networked with other female representatives from the industry, rounding off the networking activities in the packed trade fair itinerary.
Countless people visited the ZIV’s stand in Hall 8 and informed themselves about the German bicycle industry and the ZIV’s work and services. A number of companies expressed an interest in becoming a member. ZIV employees were also available to answer questions from a wider audience at the weekend, during the Festival Days. The exciting trade fair week full of meetings and talks simply flew by and the entire ZIV team is now already looking forward to meeting in Frankfurt am Main again in 2025.
