European bike giant, Accell Group, have attributed last year’s turnover increase to electric bike sales. Releasing their 2014 sales figures, the group reported net profit up 37% in 2014.
E-bikes grew from 35% to 41% of Accell’s business. While Accell sold fewer bike units last year (1.73 million, down from 1.84 million in 2013) they generated more revenue from bike sales ($714 million, up from $680 million). The increase is attributed to higher average bike prices, due to the growth in electric bikes.
Accell Group also enjoyed the continuing growth of electric bikes in the Netherlands, 12% rise in turnover resulting bicycle sales in the Netherlands, on the back of a 6% increase in sales volume.
In the UK, their overall bicycle turnover was up 10%, which the company’s report attributes ‘largely to Raleigh’.
René Takens, chairman of the Accell Group Board of Directors, said, “Accell Group had a good year in 2014, with favourable weather conditions and a slight improvement in the overall economic climate. The Dutch and German brands performed particularly well. While most markets remained stable or improved slightly, we were able to improve our turnover in virtually all the countries in which we are active, partly thanks to the popularity of our electric and sports bikes and the expansion of our parts & accessories business.”
Accell Group (and subsidiaries), with its headquarters in the Netherlands, employ approximately 2,800 people in eighteen countries. The company has production facilities in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Hungary, Turkey and China. The products of Accell are sold in more than seventy countries.
