Cycle industry: Atlantic France at the wheel of French production 

French consumers now buy more bicycles than cars, and our region is home to major producers. Atlantic France also stands out for having a dedicated business cluster, an extensive network of cycle routes, and top-quality talent. Find out all about the ecosystem in our guide at the end of the article.

Atlantic France boasts a comprehensive business ecosystem that supports the cycling sector’s growth. The industry has a significant historical background: more than one century ago, it was here that Louis Rustin invented the famous rubber discs that allow the repair of flat tires. 

Nowadays, more than two thirds of the bikes produced in France are manufactured in Atlantic France. A major part of the production is handled by MFC (Manufacture Française du Cycle), located in Machecoul, situated below Nantes, which produces 600,000 bicycles yearly, and Arcade Cycles in La Roche-sur-Yon (120,000 bikes per year).

The region is also at the forefront of manufacturing cargo bikes, which are used to replace combustion-powered vehicles in logistics. Many companies specialise in this field, such as Etni Cycles, Nihola, Bluemooov, Humbird, and Otwo.

Cycle infrastructure specialists and service providers

Atlantic France is not only home to cycle manufacturers but also boasts a complete business ecosystem. For instance, several companies specialise in the creation of dedicated infrastructure, such as Abricyclette, Lacroix City, and Abri Plus, the French leader in cycle parking facilities.

Other businesses offer services designed for bike improvement or management: Velco develops IoT solutions for e-bikes, Orisha is a bike dealer management software company, Ecovelo and Pony run self-service bike fleets for local authorities.

A business cluster and a cycle tourism association 

The Nantes-based competitiveness cluster ID4Mobility supports the CyGO network, a cycle business cluster which brings together 70 companies located in Atlantic France, Brittany and the Centre-Val de Loire regions.

Atlantic France is also the base of operations for France Vélo Tourisme, a public interest association aiming to develop the cycle tourism sector in France. The region welcomes over 5 million cyclists per year thanks to a network of safe, signposted cycle routes covering more than 3,000 km, including two Eurovéloroutes: La Vélodyssée and La Loire à Vélo.

Are you looking for the ideal location to establish your cycle business?
Download our guide on the cycle sector in Atlantic France to find out everything you need to know.