Bicycle industry to crack down on e-bike tuning
– Joint press release by the ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad –
Berlin, 30 September 2026 | European cycling associations sign manifesto to combat e-bike tuning and call on the EU and its Member States to introduce effective measures to ban tuning kits and prevent illegal imports.
At an industry meet for the European bicycle industry in Brussels, European Cycling Industries (ECI) – the umbrella organisation representing the entire bicycle industry – took a clear stand against e-bike tuning: it called on the EU and its Member States to commit voluntarily to preventing the tuning of e-bikes and to introduce detailed technical benchmarks for effective protection against tampering. The ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad, Germany’s associations for the bicycle industry, signed the voluntary commitment in Brussels and intend to take action against illegal e-bikes in Germany through a joint package of measures.
The associations’ main political demands:
Berlin, 30 September 2026 | European cycling associations sign manifesto to combat e-bike tuning and call on the EU and its Member States to introduce effective measures to ban tuning kits and prevent illegal imports.
At an industry meet for the European bicycle industry in Brussels, European Cycling Industries (ECI) – the umbrella organisation representing the entire bicycle industry – took a clear stand against e-bike tuning: it called on the EU and its Member States to commit voluntarily to preventing the tuning of e-bikes and to introduce detailed technical benchmarks for effective protection against tampering. The ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad, Germany’s associations for the bicycle industry, signed the voluntary commitment in Brussels and intend to take action against illegal e-bikes in Germany through a joint package of measures.
The associations’ main political demands:
- prevent the unregulated trade in tuning kits by adopting a system similar to in France;
- targeted crackdown by the police, customs and market regulators on illegal e-bikes, most of which are imported.
«State-of-the-art» in practice
With this voluntary commitment and position paper, the industry demonstrates its unity and determination in combatting e-bike tuning and illegal e-bikes. However, to tackle the problem effectively, it is essential to establish what actually counts as e-bike tuning and illegal motorisation. In its position paper, the ECI details exactly what is meant in practice with «state-of-the-art» anti-tampering tools. The annexes list measures that manufacturers must implement, along with specific criteria for their product development. It helps regulatory authorities to determine whether a system is designed to be tamper-proof or merely gives the impression of being so and therefore may not be sold or used as an e-bike deemed legally equivalent to a bicycle.
Burkhard Stork | CEO, ZIV: «This closes a significant regulatory gap and gives both the bicycle industry and market surveillance authorities far clearer guidance. It makes it possible to distinguish between legally compliant EPACs and tuned or tunable vehicles, which no longer qualify as EPACs and consequently lose their legal approval.»
Wasilis von Rauch | Managing Director, Zukunft Fahrrad: «The message today is clear: the industry is taking responsibility. By defining state-of-the-art measures, we are giving European institutions and all relevant stakeholders the means to protect the e-bike market and, in turn, everyone who wants to use our products safely and legally.»
The ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad plan to publish a German version of the European voluntary commitment in addition to a joint package of measures to tackle illegal e-bikes in Germany. The two associations intend to merge next year to form one single trade association for the bicycle industry.
Burkhard Stork | CEO, ZIV: «This closes a significant regulatory gap and gives both the bicycle industry and market surveillance authorities far clearer guidance. It makes it possible to distinguish between legally compliant EPACs and tuned or tunable vehicles, which no longer qualify as EPACs and consequently lose their legal approval.»
Wasilis von Rauch | Managing Director, Zukunft Fahrrad: «The message today is clear: the industry is taking responsibility. By defining state-of-the-art measures, we are giving European institutions and all relevant stakeholders the means to protect the e-bike market and, in turn, everyone who wants to use our products safely and legally.»
The ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad plan to publish a German version of the European voluntary commitment in addition to a joint package of measures to tackle illegal e-bikes in Germany. The two associations intend to merge next year to form one single trade association for the bicycle industry.
The significance of EPACs
In Germany, more than half of all bicycles sold in 2025 were e-bikes, with the total number now exceeding 17 million. These bicycles must be roadworthy and may not endanger users or other road users. They help the industry to generate added value and create jobs. Non-compliant products jeopardise the entire industrial ecosystem, which primarily comprises European SMEs that bear the costs of testing, certification and documentation while competing against products that incur none of these costs.
The manifesto published by the ECI yesterday also extends the debate beyond product manipulation to the broader issue of non-compliant products. These products mainly reach European consumers through online marketplaces where goods are often sold directly by suppliers based outside the EU, with no identifiable party within the EU who is responsible for ensuring their compliance. The manifesto deliberately addresses a broad audience, including EU and national policymakers, regional authorities, market surveillance bodies, consumer organisations, insurers, online platforms and associations from other product sectors facing the same regulatory gap. This problem is not unique to the bicycle sector, though, and the manifesto makes clear that the response should be equally broad.
The manifesto’s publication comes at a time when the EU is implementing far-reaching reforms that directly address these issues. The future European Product Law could help to close the accountability gap for online sellers outside the EU, as could implementation of the General Product Safety Regulation and the Digital Services Act. Progress is also being made on the relevant underlying standards. At the same time, increasingly powerful motorised vehicles are entering the market, where the consequences of tampering could be even more serious.
The manifesto published by the ECI yesterday also extends the debate beyond product manipulation to the broader issue of non-compliant products. These products mainly reach European consumers through online marketplaces where goods are often sold directly by suppliers based outside the EU, with no identifiable party within the EU who is responsible for ensuring their compliance. The manifesto deliberately addresses a broad audience, including EU and national policymakers, regional authorities, market surveillance bodies, consumer organisations, insurers, online platforms and associations from other product sectors facing the same regulatory gap. This problem is not unique to the bicycle sector, though, and the manifesto makes clear that the response should be equally broad.
The manifesto’s publication comes at a time when the EU is implementing far-reaching reforms that directly address these issues. The future European Product Law could help to close the accountability gap for online sellers outside the EU, as could implementation of the General Product Safety Regulation and the Digital Services Act. Progress is also being made on the relevant underlying standards. At the same time, increasingly powerful motorised vehicles are entering the market, where the consequences of tampering could be even more serious.
Links to the ECI Manifesto
ZIV – German Bicycle Industry
The ZIV is the national representative body and a strong voice for both the German and international bicycle industry. It represents stakeholders from across the entire bicycle ecosystem – from importers and wholesalers to established businesses and start-ups. As an industry association, the ZIV brings together and represents the interests of around 140 member companies vis-à-vis lawmakers in the EU and Germany, the German government, authorities, media, institutions and organisations. Around 90 percent of the bicycles and e-bikes produced in Germany in 2025 were from ZIV member companies, which export 1.4 million units every year in addition to sales on the domestic market.
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