Brussels, 24 June – Europe's cycling sector, uniting both industry and users, has issued a joint call to action to President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission to recognise one of the EU’s clean mobility success stories: bicycles and e-bike leasing. As the Commission prepares its Greening Corporate Fleets initiative, sector leaders are urging policymakers to adopt a mode-neutral approach that gives bikes a rightful place alongside other modes in Europe’s corporate fleet transition while at the same time giving companies more flexibility in how to achieve this transition. Without it, the EU risks missing a fast-growing, European-made sector that is already driving zero-emission mobility, industrial growth, and jobs.
The Greening Corporate Fleets initiative presents a timely opportunity to accelerate the shift to zero-emission mobility across the EU. However, the recent Communication from the Commission focuses exclusively on electrifying cars and vans. Sector leaders warn that these risks sidelining (e-)bikes, despite their growing presence in corporate fleets and their proven ability to drive both environmental and economic benefits.
“To meet its decarbonisation targets and boost industrial competitiveness, Europe must support all clean mobility solutions—not just electric cars,” said Paul Walsh, CEO of Cycling Industries Europe. “Company bike leasing is a European success story already transforming how businesses and employees move across Member States.
Bike Leasing and corporate bicycle fleets are a fast track to clean mobility
Bike leasing models have flourished in countries like Germany and Belgium, allowing employers to offer bicycles and e-bikes as a tax-efficient benefit in kind. In Germany, over 1.9 million companybikes were on the road in 2023, with an annual market growth rate of 46% and turnover reaching €3.2 billion. In Belgium, 27% of employees now have access to a leased company bike.
These trends complement—not compete with—EV adoption. Germany also registered 500,000 new EVs in 2023, illustrating how multimodal strategies can drive deeper and faster decarbonisation.
A competitive, job-creating European industry
With over 11.7 million bicycles sold across Europe in 2023 and €19.3 billion in revenue from bicycle and e-bike sales alone, without services included, the cycling industry is a fast-growing part of Europe’s economy. More than 90% of e-bikes sold in the EU are made in Europe, and the sector supports 1.35 million jobs today, with the potential to create an additional 1 million by 2030.
The growth of services such as bike leasing, logistics, and tourism is accelerating in countries with supportive policy frameworks. A mode-neutral Greening Corporate Fleets initiative would help scale these benefits EU-wide.
Policy recommendations
To ensure the initiative reflects Europe’s full decarbonisation and competitiveness potential, the sector calls on the European Commission to:
- Expand the definition of zero-emission corporate fleets to include all zero-emission means of transport, including (e-)bikes. Make sure that the use of (e-)bikes (including cargo bikes) also counts towards the decarbonisation targets of a company’s corporate fleet.
- Encourage Member States to enable company bike leasing and mobility budgets as part of sustainable corporate mobility schemes.
- Provide support tools, funding, technical guidance and best practices to help businesses—especially SMEs—implement cost-effective, multi-modal fleet strategies.
“The case for bikes is clear—zero emissions, high in demand by users, and already delivering results for economy, environment and society,” said Jill Warren, CEO of European Cyclists’ Federation. “We urge the Commission to adopt a future-proof and inclusive approach that reflects the full spectrum of Europe’s clean and healthy mobility solutions.”
For more information, please contact:
Lauha Fried, Policy Director, Cycling Industries Europe, L.Fried(at)cyclingindustries.com
Holger Haubold, Director Intellectual Property + Data Collection, European Cyclists’ Federation, h.haubold(at)ecf.com
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