General Cycling Discussion - Quiz: The largest bicycle manufacturer in the world?

Test your cycling knowledge. What is the largest producer of bicycles in the world in number of units produced per year?

There are dozens of bike "companies", but most of them simply are decals on bikes made in just three Asian factories. You have left out of the poll a factory located in communist-occupied portion of China, and two factories located in the liberated zone of China on Taiwan. Those three companies, between them, make about 80% of the bikes sold in the USA that retail for between $300 and $900....under dozens of "brand" names. And, that $300 to $900 price range represents the majority of bikes sold by the typical neighborhood bike shop.

The largest bike factory in the world sells about 99% of its bikes in just one country...not many Americans have ridden one of their bikes.

[What is the largest producer of bicycles in the world in number of units produced per year?]

Duh. A factory!! Or do you mean who is?

gotta be Wally World with Giant Bikes

Well, strike Huffy and Schwinn, as they are owned by the same company. Shimano makes components, so I'd strike them as well. I haven't heard of Hero. Trek sales are up, but I've seen more Cannondales than Treks around, so I go with Cannondale.

Koffee

[What is the largest producer of bicycles in the world in number of units produced per year?]

Duh. A factory!! Or do you mean who is?

In 1886, Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad, a dispute over a railbed route, the US Supreme Court deemed that a private corporation was a "natural person" under the US Constitution and therefore entitled to protection under the Bill of Rights.

However, most people and many countries would consider a corporation to be a non-person entity, since you can't arrest it, put it in jail, kill it, etc. It also cannot vote as other "natural persons" can. Therefore, I stick by my phrase "What is". Unless you are talking about a one man shop, but then I doubt it would produce the most bikes in the world.

Hero bikes??
What the heck is a Hero bike? Never heard of them yet they are the latest? Their website looks like it was designed and layed out by a 5 year old.

http://www.herogroup.com/products/bikes.htm

Around here everyone rides Trek and Specialized, I would have guessed Trek was the largest bike maker, but what do I know.

None of the above. It's Chow Mein Bicycle Mgf. Co. based in Bejing. They produce 45 million bicycles annually.

Actually, Shanghai Phoenix Imp/Exp Co., Ltd., located in Shanghai, China, is a largest bicycle manufacturer and exporter in China with capacity annually of 1,500,000 bikes. However, one of the companies in the poll produces significantly more units per year.

The US is a very small bicycle market. We have expensive taste, but we don't buy many bikes. In parts of the world where bicycles are the primary form of transportation for the entire working class, you can believe that they put our numbers to SHAME. Compared to these big chinese bicycle companies, Trek is a 'boutique' bike, sold to a tiny handful of enthusiasts in a little country called the US where a few people have taken to cycling for fun and fitness.

Fixer, got any pictures of some of these Chow Mein bikes? I'm imagining something looking vaguely like a Raleigh Sport, weighing about 45 pounds, single speed or three speed, and never breaking.

peace,
sam

I could see Hero as being a biggie... They serve a bicycle market of over a billion people, after all, like the chinese companies, but perhaps with less competition.

I'm curious to hear the actual answer, and then I'd like to see a breakdown of the top 10 bicycle manufacturers, their location, and their yearly output. :)

peace,
sam

Isn't the guy who wears the devil costume during the Tour known for making some of the world's largest bikes?

:lol:

The US is a very small bicycle market. We have expensive taste, but we don't buy many bikes. In parts of the world where bicycles are the primary form of transportation for the entire working class, you can believe that they put our numbers to SHAME.

This is true. In fact, there are 300 million bicycles in China. However, the Chinese market is very fragmented with more than 2000 manufacturers. Also, because the average income is very low, bicycles are not discarded frequently, so you will often find very old bikes still on the road. On the other hand, the US market is dominated by a few large brands and retailers. Also, most American homes own newer model bikes even if they sit in the garage most of the time and are quickly discarded.

Actually, Shanghai Phoenix Imp/Exp Co., Ltd., located in Shanghai, China, is a largest bicycle manufacturer and exporter in China with capacity annually of 1,500,000 bikes. However, one of the companies in the poll produces significantly more units per year.

Doesn't CBC, located north of Hong Kong, produce considerably more than 1,500,000 bikes for export each year?. At one point, CBC was Schwinn's second biggest source of bikes.

I thought it was Giant, but it's not on the list.

Doesn't CBC, located north of Hong Kong, produce considerably more than 1,500,000 bikes for export each year?. At one point, CBC was Schwinn's second biggest source of bikes.

In 2001, CBC had production "capacity" of 2.5 million bikes. However, the company has been losing money and was delisted from the stock market in 2002. I am not sure what its production is right now, but I imagine it is significantly reduced.

I thought it was Giant, but it's not on the list.

Giant styles itself as the largest manufacturer of "quality" bikes in the world. That's kind of like: Apple Jacks is "part" of a complete breakfast. Anyway, Giant, which has four manufacturing plants around the world, and produced 4.7 million bikes, isn't it.

I'm a little confused on some of the poll options... Walmart doesn't produce bicycles, they buy bicycles, right? I know they have dominating interest in what the producers make, because they are the biggest buyer, but they don't actually own frame factories and whatnot, do they?

Also, Shimano makes components, not bikes... So for the purpose of the poll, if I see a Trek with shimano group, and a Cannondale with a shimano group, does that mean that Shimano has made two bicycles?

I guess I'd just like a more clear definition of what it means to be a 'manufacturer' of bicycles. I suppose I'm seeing that as meaning that, in the very least, you assemble your own frames, in a facility your company owns. I'd hesitate to count a company that is purely a trading company that buys up components and prepainted frames, assembles them, and ships them, as a 'manufacturer'.

What definition are you using, Totoro?

peace,
sam

According to Trade-india.com, India as a country is the second largest manufacturer of bicycles, second only to China, and has a yearly turnover of 12 million bicycles. Of course, individual companies can make up large or only small parts of that pie.

peace,
sam

What definition are you using, Totoro?


My definition would be any company that owns, operates, or leases the actual production facilities, including outsourced production. However, a company that solely markets and distributes bicycles and has no direct control over production is excluded. For example, if CBC produces bikes for Trek, production would count for CBC not Trek, unless Trek has direct control over the CBC facility (i.e. joint venture, subsidiary, etc.). Another example is that Schwinn is owned by Pacific Cycle. Therefore, Schwinn production counts as part of Pacific Cycle's total. Now that Dorel has acquired Pacific, Schwinn counts toward Dorel's total production.

raleigh sell a load more then cannondale schwin trek etc, wallmart is huge i do not know how many they sell but i know that raleigh sells more then the others except for hero which i have not heard of, shimano does not make bikes, so i do tihnk it must be wallmart, although if you want to get picky here they dont make them they just get another company to make them for wallmart, where as specialed cannondale etc they all make their own bikes, even thou its manufactured (by them) in tiwan.

My definition would be any company that owns, operates, or leases the actual production facilities, including outsourced production. However, a company that solely markets and distributes bicycles and has no direct control over production is excluded. For example, if CBC produces bikes for Trek, production would count for CBC not Trek, unless Trek has direct control over the CBC facility (i.e. joint venture, subsidiary, etc.). Another example is that Schwinn is owned by Pacific Cycle. Therefore, Schwinn production counts as part of Pacific Cycle's total. Now that Dorel has acquired Pacific, Schwinn counts toward Dorel's total production.

Does Walmart have this level of joint interest in the production of the bicycles they sell? I was under the impression that they just buy from Pacific and other companies like that.

Hero is a huge company, not many people have heard of it, but they are the largest producer in India, and definately in the top few producers in the world, if not the top producer. If you go to India, you won't be able to sling a cat without hitting a Hero.

peace,
sam

oh i get it, hero (hero honder) make more bikes then any other manufacturer in the world, they produce moterbikes but the original post does not limit itself to just push bikes! so yeah its hero!

oh i get it, hero (hero honder) make more bikes then any other manufacturer in the world, they produce moterbikes but the original post does not limit itself to just push bikes! so yeah its hero!

The poll refers to human powered two wheel chain driven vehicles. Motor bikes, electric scooters, tricycles, etc. do NOT count.

There are dozens of bike "companies", but most of them simply are decals on bikes made in just three Asian factories. You have left out of the poll a factory located in communist-occupied portion of China, and two factories located in the liberated zone of China on Taiwan. Those three companies, between them, make about 80% of the bikes sold in the USA that retail for between $300 and $900....under dozens of "brand" names. And, that $300 to $900 price range represents the majority of bikes sold by the typical neighborhood bike shop.

The largest bike factory in the world sells about 99% of its bikes in just one country...not many Americans have ridden one of their bikes.

WELL, WHAT COUNTRY BUYS THEM ALREADY! yeesh...

WELL, WHAT COUNTRY BUYS THEM ALREADY! yeesh...

The answer is Hero Bicycles of India. Hero has been the largest manufacturer of bikes since 1986 when it was recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records. It has about a 50 percent market share in India, and although China produces more bikes, there are more than 2000 manufacturers, so none has a commanding market share (I think the largest has 10 per cent). Hero's annual production of bikes is about 6 million units, most of which sell in the domestic market for less than $50. The company was founded in 1956 and also makes motorcycles (although motor cycles are not part of the 6 million total).

Canadian manufacturer Dorel, a furniture company that owns the Pacific, Mongoose, and Schwinn brands that are mainly sold through large retailers such as Walmart, sells 5 million bikes a year. However, much of its actual production is done by Chinese manufacturers such as Giant, CBC, and others.

Giant of Taiwan qualifies for second place with 4.7 million bikes produced in four factories in Taiwan and Europe. It also makes bikes for many of the famous brands discussed on this forum.

i would have thought it would be Pacific Cycles, the manufacturer of almost all dept store bikes and current owners of Schwinn

The answer is Hero Bicycles of India. Hero has been the largest manufacturer of bikes since 1986 when it was recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records. It has about a 50 percent market share in India, and although China produces more bikes, there are more than 2000 manufacturers, so none has a commanding market share (I think the largest has 10 per cent). Hero's annual production of bikes is about 6 million units, most of which sell in the domestic market for less than $50. The company was founded in 1956 and also makes motorcycles (although motor cycles are not part of the 6 million total).

Canadian manufacturer Dorel, a furniture company that owns the Pacific, Mongoose, and Schwinn brands that are mainly sold through large retailers such as Walmart, sells 5 million bikes a year. However, much of its actual production is done by Chinese manufacturers such as Giant, CBC, and others.

Giant of Taiwan qualifies for second place with 4.7 million bikes produced in four factories in Taiwan and Europe. It also makes bikes for many of the famous brands discussed on this forum.

I read that bike magazine article too. :p

i would have thought it would be Pacific Cycles, the manufacturer of almost all dept store bikes and current owners of Schwinn

Pacific does not make bikes. They don't operated even one factory. Pacific buys bikes from factories in Asia, with whatever "brand" decals that Pacific requests. Pacific now owns the majority of brand "names" for the numerous brands of bikes that were built in the USA prior to around 1990.

In 1974, American bike factories built more than ten million bikes. In 2004, the total production of all bike factories in the USA was far less than a million bikes. Trek and Cannondale are the last "large" bike makers in the USA...and I would not bet even they will be making bikes twenty years from now.

i would have thought it would be Pacific Cycles, the manufacturer of almost all dept store bikes and current owners of Schwinn


What about Next? Doesn't Walmart own the Next brand?
Pacific would have been my second guess.

Isn't the guy who wears the devil costume during the Tour known for making some of the world's largest bikes?

:lol:
no. just the most hellish bikes!

WALMART, ergo SATAN doesn't make a bloody thing! just pits manufacturers against
one and other.

Ha! I knew it. :) I ended up voting Hero after looking at some india trade material. Its a sobering reminder that the US, while economically large, is not a big place, and we don't have a lot of people. There are nearly three times the number of people in India than the US, and they ride a LOT of bicycles. Our little US brands are pretty small in comparison.

Interesting stuff.

peace,
sam

"Cycling Plus" did a two part series on Hero a while back. In "Part I", the writer toured the factory. He described an interested mix of "2005", with air-conditioned computer rooms for designers and engineers. And, a welding area probably much like that of Schwinn, in about 1895. One worker was carried out, to recover from heat exhaustion. The "line" workers are often migrants from rural areas who are seeking to save up enough money to return home and buy some land.

In "Part II", the author toured through India on his Hero, which resembled a 1910 Raleigh. He found that every village had a guy or two who could fix tires and make minor repairs. And, his Hero often needed some help.

When he finished his tour, he gave his Hero to a person in India that he had met. The cost of shipping the bike home would have far exceeded the cost of the bike.

I'm surprised how many folks think that "names" such as Schwinn, GT, Wal-Mart, or Pacific have anything to do with building bikes. There are only two companies building bikes in high volume in the USA: Trek and Cannondale. Trek models that retail for about $1,000 and up have frames that built and painted in Wisconsin, with all final assembly and testing also done in Wisconsin. All of Cannondale's aluminum frames are made in the USA, and all final assembly and testing of Cannondale bikes is done in the USA.

The other "brands" that sell in high volumes, no matter how "all American" their name might be, are simply decals placed on imported bikes.

Walmart does not make bikes. But the company that sells to them does. As far as I know, the largest bicycle company in the World is still the China bicycle company, with maybe Pacific Bikes next in line. Neither does Shimano sell bikes. What's up with this poll?

Hero's annual production of bikes is about 6 million units, most of which sell in the domestic market for less than $50.

Does anyone know what an average income in India is? How does that $50 compare with a North American plunking down $300 for a bike?

Walmart does not make bikes....maybe Pacific Bikes next in line. Neither does Shimano sell bikes. What's up with this poll?

Well, if nothing else, it illustrates the confusion that exists between a "bike factory" and a "bike importer". Pacific is a bike importer. They do not own a factory. They do not own even 1 % of a factory. They bought up every American brand name they could find (such as Schwinn) and put those names on the bikes they import.

Does anyone know what an average income in India is? How does that $50 compare with a North American plunking down $300 for a bike?

According to the CIA:

Per capita GDP, India: $3,100
Per capital GDP, US: $40,100

So on a pure numerical ratio basis, that $50 is like $650 to a North American. In terms of utility I imagine it's more like buying a no-frills used car.

It is real simple. There are only two large-scale bike builders in the USA: Trek and Cannondale. The other "brands" that sell in high volumes are simply decals placed onto imported bikes.

Actually, it's not even that simple. There is no significant US manufacturer of components; what Trek and Cannondale "build" are frames, which account for about 20% of the cost of a bike. They also assemble bicycles with US-built frames and imported components.

Actually, it's not even that simple. There is no significant US manufacturer of components; what Trek and Cannondale "build" are frames, which account for about 20% of the cost of a bike. They also assemble bicycles with US-built frames and imported components.

That "20%" for the frame estimate might work okay for a $200 bike made in Asia. It does not work for the bikes that Trek and Cannondale build in the USA, which start at a retail price of about $800, and go up to around $4,000 or $5,000. Full Ultegra from stem to stern will cost a large companies less than $500 or so per bike.

The costs of a bike such as the one Lance rides are far more complex to account for than on a Trek beach cruiser, purchased by Trek from Merida for $100 or $150. The price of Lance's bike includes the design and engineering for its advanced carbon frame, designing the machines and building the machines used to make the frames, labor costs for highly skilled workers, and the cost of superior quality warranty support. The total costs associated with a Trek that retails for around $2,000 is likely to be above $1,000. And, the imported components are likely to cost less than $500 in the volume that Trek purchases.

Further, unlike importers, Trek and Cannondale put a good deal of care into assembly of their bikes. Imported components are inspected for quality, and subjected to rigourous testing. The cost of putting the bar tape on the bar correctly, using American workers, exceeds the purchase cost of the tape. The cost of the labor to paint a frame on a $2,000 bike far exceeds the cost of the paint.

The many millions of dollars that Trek and Cannondale have invested into their US manufacturing facilities explain why there are only TWO companies still in that business in America. Big investments, for modest returns.

Does anyone know what an average income in India is? How does that $50 compare with a North American plunking down $300 for a bike?

The average ANNUAL income is $400. Many people live on less than $1 per day. If you go to India, buy a $40 bike when you are there and when you are ready to come back, give it to some kid on the street. It's like giving him a month's income.

According to the CIA:

Per capita GDP, India: $3,100
Per capital GDP, US: $40,100

So on a pure numerical ratio basis, that $50 is like $650 to a North American. In terms of utility I imagine it's more like buying a no-frills used car.

GDP is not always a good indicator of income, since it can be skewed by large government expenditures, such as nuclear plants, military hardware, palaces, etc. Also, in places like India, much of the wealth is concentrated in a few hands.

raleigh sell a load more then cannondale schwin trek etc, wallmart is huge i do not know how many they sell but i know that raleigh sells more then the others except for hero which i have not heard of, shimano does not make bikes, so i do tihnk it must be wallmart, although if you want to get picky here they dont make them they just get another company to make them for wallmart, where as specialed cannondale etc they all make their own bikes, even thou its manufactured (by them) in tiwan.

When has Raleigh been sold at Wallmart? I think you have mistaken them for "Schwinn"

About 25% of India's population lives under the regional poverty line definition (I'm not sure exactly what that definition is), and 41% of their population lives under the 'global' poverty definition (income less than 1USD per person per day). The wealth distribution is pretty bad too, with the richest 10% making 40-some percent of the income.

A 50$ bike is a significant expense. But in a world where the bicycle is a work vehicle, just like a car in the US, it would make sense to make a big investment like that. I mean, how many months of your income is the average new car worth? Even if you had to save up an entire month of income to buy a bike, if its what you'll use every day to do your job, then its worth the expense.

I like the idea of buying a bike while you are travelling, and then giving it to someone when you leave. It'll be cheaper than shipping it back, and it'll be a nice gesture to someone.

However, as a lark, one forum member did bring back his Hero "Jet Master" bicycle!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=111839&highlight=hero

Quite a wild ride, to be sure. The price even included a generator and lights, full fenders, full chainguard, rack, big springy seat, and kickstand that apparently weighed so much he wouldn't even install it. Looks remarkably like an early Raleigh Sports, and probably uses equivalent technology.

peace,
sam

Hero bikes??
What the heck is a Hero bike? Never heard of them yet they are the latest? Their website looks like it was designed and layed out by a 5 year old.

http://www.herogroup.com/products/bikes.htm

Around here everyone rides Trek and Specialized, I would have guessed Trek was the largest bike maker, but what do I know.

I think they mean Haro Maybe????

I think they mean Haro Maybe????

No it's Hero in India. There was a big article about them in a British cycling magazine (Cycling Plus) a little while ago.

This is the part to read about the size of the company..


http://www.herogroup.com/Hero%20Group_presn_04.pdf


Over 60 MILLION bikes on the road in India.

Since 1986 a Guinness book of world records holder as the biggest bicycle company.

About 1.4 times bigger than it's nearest competitor.

2002 - 2003 sales $132 million

The U.S. is a small place to market bicycles compared to some places.

http://www.herocycles.com/

Better website ^

http://www.herocycles.com/

Better website ^


Have you seen my stapler?

I like how Wal-Mart is winning on the poll, considering they don't make a single bike.

Happy to be a new member here ! Just wanted to tell everyone that the biggest bike maker is by far the biggest. The Tianjin, China Company Fushida made more than 42 million bikes last year and exported 12 million of those bikes around the world. They make both low priced and top of the line bikes. They are much bigger than Giant (Taiwan bike co.) who only made between 6--7 million bikes last year according to what I heard. But, Giant is the biggest brand in the world if you don't include the Chinese market. But Fushida sold 18 million bikes in China last year under their brand Fushida and only about 2 million under other brands. They are also the biggest supplier to both Walmart and also Kent. So Fushida is biggest maker and biggest brand by far. Thanks, Franco

Sorry forgot to say ! Fushida has about 130 million bikes on the road in China alone. Outside of China I can only guess that the number i about 80--85 million bikes on the raod. So, total should be over 210 million worldwide if not more. Thanks, Franco