Setback for Eurobike: ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad end cooperation with bicycle trade fair

The German Bicycle Industry Association ZIV and the German Bicycle Association Zukunft Fahrrad are ending their co-operation with the leading bicycle trade fair Eurobike. This was announced by the two associations in a joint press release. "We could not recognise that both shareholders were supporting measures with the same consistency that would be necessary to make the trade fair fit for the future of the bicycle industry", explains Bernhard Lange, ZIV Executive Committee member and Managing Partner of Paul Lange GmbH & Co. KG, explains the decision.

The future of Eurobike

The consequences of this decision are not yet foreseeable. Eurobike, founded in Friedrichshafen in 1991 as a pure mountain bike trade fair in contrast to the established trade fairs such as IFMA in Cologne, had developed into the leading international trade fair for the bicycle industry over the years. However, the cramped situation at the exhibition centre and in the Friedrichshafen region hindered the further development of Eurobike. Numerous well-known manufacturers had already turned their backs on the trade fair. In order to counteract the further loss of importance, Messe Friedrichshafen entered into a joint venture with Messe Frankfurt. The joint venture Fairnamic, in which Messe Friedrichshafen holds 51 per cent of the shares, has been organising Eurobike on the Messe Frankfurt exhibition grounds since 2022.

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Eurobike suffers setbacks despite bicycle boom

Despite the bike boom in the coronavirus years, Eurobike had to accept further setbacks at its new location. The number of exhibitors fell from 1900 in 2024 to 1800 last year to 1500 this year. The range of topics covered by Eurobike has become ever broader and, at least in theory, extends from high-end road bikes and e-bikes of all kinds to electric cargo bikes and other forms of micro-e-mobility. Recently, however, large and important specialised trade purchasing associations such as ZEG and BICO have stayed away from Eurobike, as have almost all the major international brands. In recent years, the latter have switched to presenting their new products to their specialist dealers at in-house exhibitions.

What does Eurobike stand for?

The two associations, which have now cancelled their cooperation with Eurobike, surveyed their members in detail about their experiences after this year's trade fair. The result of this feedback process was a "10-point Eurobike 2026 plan", which served as the basis for discussions with the trade fair organisers. Essentially, the aim is to emphasise the profile of Eurobike more clearly and to present the various aspects of cycling such as sport, leisure and everyday mobility on an equal footing. The ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad are also calling for bicycle-related topics such as transport & logistics, fleet management, commercial use and child and family mobility to be firmly anchored in the range of topics covered by Eurobike. Furthermore, the idea of Eurobike separating electrically assisted or powered bicycles and small vehicles into a separate trade fair ("Mobifuture") is rejected.

What can be done to combat the loss of exhibitors?

Eurobike is also being called upon to counteract the departure of the major trade associations and to develop a concept to win back these and other well-known manufacturers. The recent significant rise in prices for exhibition space has also been criticised. The associations are also in favour of clearly dividing the trade fair into three trade visitor days and a maximum of two (instead of the previous three) public days. Ulrich Prediger, founder of JobRad and Chairman of the Board of Zukunft Fahrrad, summarises the demands as follows: "The members of Zukunft Fahrrad and ZIV have formulated clear ideas on the necessary structural and content-related adjustments. Unfortunately, we see no realistic chance of achieving these."

Eurobike surprises

Eurobike was surprised by the decision of the two associations. "Over the past few months, we have been in close and constructive dialogue with market players and have received numerous constructive suggestions from the entire industry for the further development of Eurobike," said the trade fair management. Many of these suggestions were taken up immediately. "Our aim is to continuously develop the central Eurobike platform together with the sector and our partners from industry, trade and politics and to strengthen it as a leading trade fair in the national and international context," Eurobike continued.

What is the alternative?

Meanwhile, the announcements from the ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad can be interpreted to mean that a rival event to Eurobike is possibly being considered. Wasilis von Rauch, Managing Director of Zukunft Fahrrad, says: "The demand from our members for a strong joint platform remains high. Accordingly, we are continuing the close dialogue we have started with our companies and partner associations." Burkhard Stork, Managing Director of the ZIV, adds: "We will make very rapid progress with the process. The issue of the industry platform must be resolved in a forward-looking manner, as we all recognise the enormous political and economic challenges facing our industry."