A 100% French-made bike… is it really possible ?
Those who are familiar with the bicycle industry already know the answer: it won’t happen anytime soon… As Thomas Lecompte explained on the set of the programme ‘Focus on the bicycle industry: local ecosystem and regional expertise’ at the SIANE 2025 industry trade fair in October 2025, a 100% French-made bicycle is still a dream.
The European and French industry still needs greater coordination between its various stakeholders in order to become less dependent and more sovereign within the sector. Thomas highlights the need to be organised in the same way as the bicycle industry in Asia. He also stresses the significance of investing in local production tools, to eventually provide bicycles made in France.
Yet, the French bicycle sector has the expertise, skills, knowledge of components and materials to address this reindustrialisation issue.
At Milc, we are trying to tackle this challenge with our factory, our industrial manufacturing processes and the expertise of our team of technicians, in the Pyrenees.
Thomas provides an analysis and several avenues for reflection on this topic, available to listen to here or in full in the video of the programme (sorry, it is in French!)