‘Europe needs stronger bicycle industry’

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee of the European Parliament is pushing the European Commission and member states to support the production of ‘Made in Europe’ bicycles and components.

At the end of January, the TRAN Committee approved a resolution which calls for an EU Cycling Strategy. The strategy should regard all aspects, from safer infrastructure for cyclists to a stronger and more competitive bike industry. The resolution was approved with 38 votes in favour and one against by the Swedish ECR MEP Peter Lundgren. It must now be voted on in a plenary session, probably in February.

The text was promoted by the French Green MEP Karima Delli. The same MEP already pre- sented a question to the Commission in June, asking for an EU cycling strategy. In her reply in July, Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, refused to engage in new commitments. For this reason, the resolution approved in January pushes again on the matter, trying to engage Brussels in a real ‘Made in Europe’ for bicycles. The plan would stimulate “the competitiveness of the EU industry by bridging the investment gap, maintaining a global level playing field, stimulating supply chain reshoring and security, and by encouraging high-quality jobs, the creation of cycling clusters and enhancing industryrelated vocational training,” according to the resolution. Furthermore, MEPs call on the Commission “to recognise the cycling industry, including battery manufacturing for e-bikes and the circular economy, in particular SMEs, as legitimate partners in the mobility ecosystem of the EU industrial strategy, and in industrial infrastructure programmes and funding schemes.”

The Transport and Tourism Committee under- lines that the EU cycling ecosystem already represents over 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a million jobs, with the possibility to double the number of workers by 2030. In fact, MEPs believe that the e-bike industry can contribute to creating green jobs and absorbing reskilled workers from other sectors. The text recognises the potential of e-bikes in increasing the number of cyclists and underlines the need to give proper legal classification to e-bikes up to 25km/h in both EU and national legislation.

“With this vote, the European Parliament is one step away from adopting its very first position on cycling and finally asserting that cycling is a transport mode that should be put on equal footing with other modes of transport. Calling for a dedicated European strategy and for the cycling industry to be recognised as a key partner are important steps toward this change of mindset that will have tremendous impacts on the ground,” said the rapporteur in a statement.

Jan-Willem van Schaik EditorinChief

Taipei Cycle 2023

The timing of the Taipei Cycle show could not have been better this year. From 22-25 March, the international e-bike and bicycle industry will gather again in Asia for the first time since 2019. There is much to discuss as the market situation has changed drastically since the hype during the pandemic. At Eurobike last June, it was already obvious how much faceto-face contact was appreciated and we are going to see the same at Taipei Cycle. At Eurobike the first signs of a slowdown in sales appeared, and today, seven months later, the industry is facing the full impact of that trend. High inventories on all levels in the supply chain, in combination with rising inflation in the EU zone, raise concerns over the financial position of many companies. Low interest rates made it relatively easy to solve financial issues over the past decade, but those days are over now that interest rates saw a steep increase in 2022. The Prophete/Cycle Union bankruptcy last December is seen as the start of a new round of consolidations. Takeover candidates including private equity, are knocking on the factory gates, eager to invest. Such opportunities and threats will be much discussed on the show floor at the Taipei Nangang halls this year. 2023 will be decisive in showing who really managed the supply chain constraints properly during the pandemic to be resilient during the first sales dip. See you all in Taipei!

janwillemvanschaik@vmnmedia.nl