As electric bicycles spread rapidly across Europe, a shortage of specialised mechanics to repair them has emerged as a new challenge.

On Oct. 7, Electrek cited the European Cycling Industry (ECI)'s "NextGen Mechanics" report as forecasting that the European bicycle industry will need to hire about 105,000 mechanics by 2032. The number of people currently working in the sector is estimated at about 175,000.

The actual number of mechanics needed in 2032 is about 247,000, up 40 percent from current levels. The net increase is about 72,000, but the calculation is that total hiring needs reach 105,000 because the industry must also replace existing workers lost to retirement and job changes.

The technical complexity of electric bicycles is worsening the labour shortage. Unlike conventional mechanical bicycles, e-bikes require skills such as diagnosing electrical systems, checking firmware, and maintaining motors and batteries. Electrified cargo bikes and bicycles used for deliveries, rentals and leases also rack up mileage faster than regular bicycles, increasing maintenance demand.

A lack of maintenance infrastructure is affecting actual use. A Shimano survey found about 212 million Europeans faced difficulties maintaining and repairing bicycles due to high costs, long waiting times and a lack of nearby repair shops. Of those, about 121 million were estimated to have reduced bicycle use.

Low pay is also a problem. Some 72.5 percent of respondents cited low wages or occupational status as a factor behind the labour shortage, and 55 percent pointed to a lack of formal qualifications and training systems. Nearly half cited the complexity of modern bicycles as the reason.

ECI proposed creating a pan-European common entry-level qualification system covering mechanical maintenance, electrical diagnostics and safety training, and then adding manufacturer-specific specialised training on top. It said sustaining growth in the e-bike market requires expanding not only sales networks but also the ecosystem of professional maintenance workers.