Giant Group has delivered one of the clearest signals yet that the European bike industry’s painful inventory hangover may finally be winding down. In its latest quarterly report, the Taiwanese manufacturer said destocking in Europe is “nearing completion” and that demand on the continent has recovered noticeably, with its own-brand business returning to growth on the back of new model-year launches.
The numbers behind the statement are striking. Giant’s second-quarter net profit surged 234% year-on-year to NT$630 million — more than the company earned across the entire first half. Revenue rose 5.8% to NT$16.67 billion, while gross margin climbed from 20.4% to 24.2%, helped by a richer product mix and, crucially, far fewer clearance discounts. The first half overall still trails 2025, with sales down roughly 10.5%, underlining how weak the start of the year was.
For the e-bike segment — and SUV e-bikes in particular — the read-through matters. Years of heavy discounting compressed margins across the industry and made full-price launches difficult. If channel inventories genuinely normalize, brands regain room to invest in new models rather than clearing old stock.
Some caution is warranted. Giant doesn’t break out individual markets or distinguish between its own stock and dealer inventories, and Shimano recently described European market stocks as still somewhat elevated. German industry data from ZIV likewise points to gradual, not complete, normalization. Still, the direction of travel looks encouraging.
Source: eMTB-News.de