As an advantageous sector of my country’s light industry manufacturing industry, the bicycle industry is of great significance for improving the green transportation system, activating the consumer market, and promoting coordinated upgrading of the industrial chain.
The 2026 China International Bicycle Exhibition held not long ago focused on smart electric, low-carbon new materials and cycling ecology, showing a new picture of my country’s bicycle industry accelerating its transformation from a manufacturing power to a brand power.
Promoted by green travel, health awareness and the impact of rising international oil prices, the global bicycle market demand continues to be strong.
my country is the largest bicycle producer and exporter. It has large-scale and specialized production capabilities covering the entire industrial chain of bicycle raw material processing, parts production and vehicle manufacturing, and its supply advantage is stable.
In 2025, the total output of my country’s bicycle industry will reach 110.8 million units, a year-on-year increase of 11.3%, and the operating income of enterprises above designated size will be 235.24 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.0%.
From the perspective of product structure, the proportion of electric bicycle production has increased significantly, while the traditional bicycle market still maintains a certain scale, and product demand continues to differentiate towards sports, leisure, fitness and other scenarios.
From the competitive landscape, market concentration continues to increase, with the market share of the top five companies exceeding 70%. Yadi and Emma dominate the cost-effective market for mass commuting. Emerging brands such as Mavericks and No. 9 have bucked the trend with their intelligent high-end positioning. Xidesheng, Ruibao, etc. are competing fiercely with international brands in the mid-to-high-end sports market.
From the perspective of technological innovation, the industry is developing towards mid-to-high-end, intelligence, and functional integration. The application of lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy and carbon fiber has increased. Key technologies such as transmissions and intelligent electronic controls have achieved breakthroughs and are deeply integrated with cutting-edge technologies such as AI and 5G.
However, while the industry is developing rapidly, it also faces external challenges and structural contradictions.
The foreign trade environment is complex and ever-changing, with frequent policy fluctuations. The United States and Europe continue to impose tariffs on China and set strict technical standards. Compliance costs and export pressures have increased sharply. The localization rate of key components such as high-precision transmission systems and high-end sensors is low, and core technologies are controlled by others.
The industrial cycle adjustment coupled with weak external demand has led to a sharp increase in channel and inventory pressures; the new national standard for electric bicycles has pushed up production costs and industry competition has intensified.
In order to promote the bicycle industry to break through bottlenecks and achieve high-quality development, the following measures can be taken.
The first is to optimize the market and foreign trade layout, establish a diversified supply chain, and proactively avoid trade barriers.
Adopt the “domestic R&D, Southeast Asian territorial production, and global distribution” model to optimize the production capacity layout to hedge against the pressure of high tariffs in the United States and Europe.
Promote market diversification, deeply explore the urgent demand market for electric-assisted bicycles in Europe, actively explore emerging regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, reduce dependence on a single market, and build a more balanced export market structure.
Actively meet relevant requirements such as EU CE certification, new battery regulations and carbon footprint, and transform compliance standards into market competitive advantages.
The second is to persist in using technological innovation to drive product structure optimization, improve independent innovation capabilities, and promote the transformation of industries to high added value.
In response to the “stuck neck” problem faced by the supply chain, we will increase the collaborative innovation of the industry’s upstream and downstream industries, increase investment in research and development of batteries, motors, intelligent electronic control systems and lightweight materials, overcome core technical problems, and further improve the autonomy of key components.
Focusing on prime tracks such as carbon fiber sports cars and intelligent interconnected cars, relying on technology and product advantages, it focuses on high-end, intelligent and lightweight cars, and consolidates brand reputation with high-quality products.
The third is to adhere to both supply and demand adaptation and lean operations, promote industry improvement in quality and efficiency, and broaden profit margins.
Scientifically carry out production capacity layout and operation optimization, abandon the extensive production model, implement a flexible production system, flexibly allocate production capacity according to market orders and demand changes, achieve efficient connection between production and sales, and comprehensively improve production and operation efficiency.
Based on multiple application scenarios, we will deeply explore market segments, enhance product innovation, closely follow consumer trends and integrate multiple business formats to extend the service chain, break the traditional profit pattern of single sales, tap incremental value, and effectively avoid homogeneous low-price competition.
The fourth is to optimize the policy environment, stabilize market expectations, and lead healthy development.
Faced with the problems of new national standards pushing up costs and intensifying industry “involution”, relevant departments should further optimize policy design, give full play to the effects of old-for-new policies, stabilize market expectations, and promote a smooth transition of the industry.
Improve the industry guidance mechanism, strengthen market supervision, rectify malicious low-price competition, and create a benign development environment.
Enterprises must take the initiative to optimize production processes in compliance with national standards, change the mindset of low-price competition, increase product added value and brand premium, and promote the industry’s shift from price “involution” to quality competition.
