ROMA – It was since the mountain bike boom, which occurred in the first half of the 90s, that the Italian cycling sector did not record such a positive performance. Despite the difficult period due to the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic (and this is probably one of the causes of the phenomenon), the national bicycle market returns to exceed the share of two million units sold. In short, on the basis of the latest data released by Confindustria Ancma (National Association of cycle motorcycle accessories), 2020 was a record year with double-digit growth for all types of two-wheeled pedals: traditional bikes (+ 14% on 2019) with 1,730,000 pieces purchased and eBikes, 280,000 units, (+ 44% on 2019). Overall, the data reached 2,010,000 bicycles sold (+ 17%) during the months marked by the health emergency. The effects of the pandemic, according to the ANCMA, represent one of the reasons for this exponential growth: “The need for distancing, sustainable mobility in the urban environment, as well as the desire for freedom and well-being are the main reasons for the return to the saddle of Italians – underlined the president of Ancma Paolo Magri – But the success of the market also accounts for the introduction of the government mobility bonus, which contributed to significantly support a demand, which in any case followed a positive growth trend even before of the operation of incentives. The exceptional results of 2020 are certainly not an end in itself, but they constitute a starting point to move from the logic of purchase incentives to a concrete prospect of incentives for the use made of attention and investments on a cultural level, for the ‘cycle infrastructure, the development of cycle tourism and to guarantee the safety of those who choose gentle mobility in everyday life ”.
The ANCMA analysis also provides an updated general framework on the state of health enjoyed by the sector in the Belpaese, where about 250 companies operate, mainly SMEs, internationally recognized excellences, as well as a tangible expression of the quality of Made in Italy. in the field of two-wheeled pedals. Furthermore, in 2020 the production of the sector recorded an overall positive sign (+ 6% on the previous year), with the growth of eBikes by 29% against a slight decline in imports and exports of muscle-traction bicycles. On the other hand, a positive sign for both exports and imports of eBikes, respectively growth of 28% and 67%. EBikes are confirmed as a constantly increasing market phenomenon, so much so that in five years pedal assisted bicycles have quintupled their sales figures, going from just over 50 thousand units a year, to 280 mla last year, thus presaging good development prospects for the industry in the sector and its supply chain. Finally, as regards the purchasing methods, 2020 confirmed the specialized shop as a reference point for consumers and according to Ancma data, more than 70% of the two billion euros of turnover generated by the entire sales network during the year is the result of the commitment of physical stores despite the global growth of e-commerce. (mr)
.