Zweirad-Industrie-Verband

The Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV), which presents itself publicly as ZIV – Die Fahrradindustrie, is the national trade association and interest representation of the German and international bicycle industry. Headquartered in Berlin, it bundles and represents the interests of around 140 member companies vis-à-vis legislators in the EU and Germany, the government, authorities, media, institutions and organisations. Its membership covers production and import of bicycles, e-bikes, bicycle parts, components and accessories, as well as wholesalers, established companies and start-ups from across the bicycle ecosystem. The association's economic weight is substantial: according to its own figures, around 90 percent of the bicycles and e-bikes produced in Germany in 2025 came from ZIV member companies, which additionally export 1.4 million vehicles per year. Germany is the largest market for bicycles and e-bikes in Europe, and ZIV members are among the worldwide innovation leaders in e-bike technology. The German bicycle industry directly or indirectly employs more than 300,000 people, and German bicycle companies export roughly two million vehicles annually. ZIV was formed in 2000 through the merger of the Fachverband Fahrrad- und Kraftradteile (FTV) and the Bad Soden-based Verband der Fahrrad- und Motorrad-Industrie (VFM). In 2009 the former Zweirad Groß- und Außenhandelsverband (ZGA) joined. The association engages in political dialogue at federal, state and European level, including as a member of the European Cycling Industries (ECI) association. It publishes annual market data for the bicycle industry, runs campaigns such as Pro Fahrrad – Radfahren bewegt (from January 2010) and aufsRadsetzen (for the 2024 European elections), and is a co-organiser and brand owner of the new annual bicycle trade fair 'towards tomorrow – European Bike Show' in Cologne from 2027, organised by Koelnmesse. Its cooperation with the Eurobike trade fair ended at the end of 2025. In 2026 the association announced a merger mandate with Zukunft Fahrrad to form a single strong voice for the industry.

The Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) was created in 2000 through the merger of two predecessor organisations: the Fachverband Fahrrad- und Kraftradteile (FTV) and the Verband der Fahrrad- und Motorrad-Industrie (VFM), which was based in Bad Soden. This consolidation gave the German bicycle and motorcycle parts industry a single national association. In 2009 the former Zweirad Groß- und Außenhandelsverband (ZGA) joined the ZIV, broadening the association's membership to include wholesale and foreign trade companies. From its Berlin headquarters, the ZIV has grown into the national interest representation of the German and international bicycle industry. Its membership includes producers and importers of bicycles, e-bikes, bicycle parts, components and accessories, as well as wholesalers, established companies and start-ups from across the bicycle ecosystem. By 2025 the association counted around 140 member companies, which according to ZIV accounted for roughly 90 percent of bicycle and e-bike production in Germany. Member companies additionally export 1.4 million vehicles per year, while German bicycle companies overall export about two million vehicles annually and the industry directly or indirectly employs more than 300,000 people. The ZIV engages in political dialogue with legislative, executive and administrative bodies at federal and state level, and as a member of the European Cycling Industries (ECI) association at European level. It publishes annual market data for the bicycle industry, providing public analysis of the previous year's market. In January 2010 the association launched the campaign Pro Fahrrad – Radfahren bewegt to sustainably improve the image of the bicycle in Germany. For the 2024 European elections it ran a further campaign, aufsRadsetzen, to promote cycling. Over a longer period the ZIV was a co-organiser of the IFMA bicycle trade fair. It is an industry partner and brand owner of the new annual bicycle industry trade fair 'towards tomorrow – European Bike Show', which will be held in Cologne from 2027 and organised by Koelnmesse. Its interim cooperation with the Eurobike trade fair ended at the end of 2025. In 2026 the association announced that members of ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad had approved a merger mandate to form one strong voice for the industry in the future. The ZIV also runs events such as the ZIV Technik-Konferenz, held on 3–4 November 2026 in Berlin, and the ZIV-Azubi-Tag for apprentices, and it maintains a digitalisation network open to cooperation.

• 2026

  Members of ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad approve a merger mandate; ZIV Technik-Konferenz held 3–4 November in Berlin.

• 2025

  ZIV ends its interim cooperation with the Eurobike trade fair at the end of the year.

• 2024

  aufsRadsetzen campaign for the European elections to promote cycling.

• 2010

  Launch of the Pro Fahrrad – Radfahren bewegt campaign in January to improve the image of cycling in Germany.

• 2009

  The former Zweirad Groß- und Außenhandelsverband (ZGA) joins the ZIV.

• 2000

  ZIV formed through the merger of the Fachverband Fahrrad- und Kraftradteile (FTV) and the Verband der Fahrrad- und Motorrad-Industrie (VFM).

• First edition of the annual 'towards tomorrow – European Bike Show' in Cologne, organised by Koelnmesse, with ZIV as industry partner and brand owner.

National trade association and political voice of the German bicycle and e-bike industry, representing around 140 member companies and roughly 90% of German bicycle and e-bike production.

• ZIV market data service

  Annual market data for the bicycle industry, determined and made publicly available each year.

• towards tomorrow – European Bike Show

  Annual bicycle industry trade fair in Cologne from 2027, organised by Koelnmesse; ZIV is industry partner and brand owner.

• ZIV Technik-Konferenz

  Technical conference held on 3–4 November 2026 in Berlin.

• ZIV-Azubi-Tag

  Event for apprentices in Hessen, providing space for exchange and networking.

1. 1Startseite - ZIV – Die Fahrradindustrieziv-zweirad.de
2. 2FahrradIndustrieGeschichte(n) - ZIV – Die Fahrradindustrieziv-zweirad.de
3. 3Willkommen bei der deutschen Fahrradindustrie - ZIV – Die Fahrradindustrieziv-zweirad.de
4. 4Zweirad-Industrie-Verband - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Zweirad-Industrie-Verband - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org