In 2023, the French government signed an economic sector contract for the bicycle industry, aiming to accelerate the development and structuring of a domestic production ecosystem. In line with this public impulse, our firm conducted the first dedicated study on the cycles sector in France, with a specific focus on its industrial structuring and the network of companies that compose it.
Beyond providing an economic overview of the sector, this work highlights the main transformations reshaping the industry: the growth of soft mobility, rapid technological change, diversification of uses (commuting, leisure, sport, commercial activity) and the rise of a structured circular economy. The study is designed to support the structuring of an ecosystem that now plays a central role in sustainable mobility in France.
A fast-growing production sector
The cycling sector is highly diversified, spanning multiple market segments: bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, mopeds and wheelchairs, supported by more than 3,800 companies and nearly 20,000 employees across the country. The sector nevertheless remains strongly dependent on imports for key components, particularly those linked to electric systems (batteries, motors), even though market momentum has been very positive in recent years: €3.4 billion in turnover for cycles and scooters in 2023. At European level, France ranks as the 7th-largest bicycle producer, with 645,000 bicycles manufactured in 2023, while Portugal remains the historic and leading producer (2.8 million units). Driven by the growth of soft mobility and electrification, the sector has strong potential and is progressively reinforcing its production capacity and technological autonomy (notably vis-à-vis Asia) in order to better control the entire value chain.
Technological and societal changes transforming all professions
The study highlights deep transformations of jobs and skills, largely driven by the rapid electrification of products. The share of electric-assist bicycles (EABs), which has risen from 5% of sales in 2016 to 30% in 2023, illustrates the sector’s technological shift. This evolution requires new skills focused on electronics, embedded systems, software management and specialized maintenance, going well beyond the traditional mechanical skills commonly associated with cycle repair. In parallel, growing attention to durability, eco-design and recycling—especially among French consumers—is pushing companies to integrate circular economy considerations into their business models. This is reflected, for instance, in the development of diagnostic, reconditioning and battery treatment activities for all electrified products.
Alongside the changes in manufacturing and assembly, the diversification of uses is also driving the emergence of new market segments, particularly in workshop-retail outlets, such as high-end customization or commercial-use cycles (cycle logistics). As a result, the profiles sought must now be able to combine technical expertise with service and customer relationship skills to meet increasingly demanding expectations.
A rapidly growing sector generating new skills requirements
The sector has experienced particularly strong employment momentum in recent years. Between 2016 and 2023, industrial employment linked to manufacturing increased by 30%, while the number of establishments grew from around 1,800 to 3,800. This growth reflects both the expansion of the market, the emergence of new occupations, and the gradual structuring of a more robust industrial ecosystem. Certain regions, such as Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie, have emerged as genuine industrial hubs, bringing together long-established companies, assemblers, innovation players, and electronics specialists, thereby enabling an upmarket shift in the products placed on the market. However, this dynamic is generating significant pressure on skills, particularly in technical field (assembly, quality, industrialization, electrical maintenance), as well as in digital, logistics, services, and commercial functions. The sector is therefore seeking to better anticipate its needs and to structure career pathways that are more closely aligned with these developments: broader skill sets, upskilling of new entrants, and increased versatility. Such anticipation is essential to secure growth and strengthen the competitiveness of companies within the sector, which operate in a context of intense international competition.
A training offer that must be aligned with the sector’s emerging occupational needs
The sector diagnosis and feedback from key historical stakeholders have highlighted a gap between the existing training offer and the needs expressed by companies. While multidisciplinary skills (mechanics, electronics, digital technologies) are addressed by existing programs, these pathways mainly lead to more traditional industrial sectors (automotive, aerospace, etc.). Specialized training focused on batteries and cycle powertrains remains limited, despite their growing centrality to emerging occupations within the sector. Lastly, the attractiveness of training programs dedicated to the cycle industry needs to be strengthened, in particular by clarifying potential career pathways within the sector and enhancing the visibility and recognition of occupations that remain relatively unknown to the general public. In a highly competitive environment, skills development is a key lever to support the sector’s growth and secure the development of its companies, especially very small and small-to-medium-sized enterprises.
Building a sustainable industrial trajectory: strategic levers for the sector
This study has identified several areas for action to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and resilience, including:
• strengthening the development of production capacities (batteries, motors) to reduce dependence on imports;
• promoting an upmarket shift in domestic manufacturing and further developing assembly activities in France;
• linking the development of the cycle industry with the establishment of a French battery value chain, leveraging expertise developed in the automotive sector;
• organizing the sector’s circular economy at national level, connecting cycle manufacturing with repair, reuse, and recycling activities;
• strengthening cooperation between companies, industrial stakeholders, and local training providers to mitigate the risk of skills shortages.
Key Deliverables
- Analyse the main product segments of the sector and their economic weight in France (sales volumes, jobs created, maturity of the value chain)
- Identify emerging occupations and the new skills being mobilised
- Conduct a survey among sector stakeholders to identify the main ongoing developments within the industry
- Map the existing training provision and identify gaps relative to companies’ needs
Key Figures
- 20,000 employees in the sector, with a 30% increase in manufacturing employment between 2016 and 2023 (representing 4,000 additional jobs)
- 3,800 companies located across the entire country
- 645,000 bicycles produced in France in 2023
For further information, please refer to the study published by the Observatoire Paritaire de la Métallurgie and OPCO 2i.
