Bike Europe 3-2023

Lithuania, the next bike production hub?

Other industries will demonstrate their capabilities to the benefit of the bicycle

Eurobike a display of industry’s transformation

FRANKFURT, Germany – The acceleration of the market share of e-bikes in Europe comes with a transformation of the industry’s global show. More than ever before, Eurobike exhibitors will shape the future direction of the industr y

The 27% increase in the number of exhibitors for Eurobike 2023 comp ared with last year, as reported on page 29, marks the widespread interest in the industr y. A

E-bikes in a changing legal landscape

ZEIST, the Netherlands – As market shares for e-bikes across Europe grow, so does the need for the correct regulator y framework to help this booming business thrive. Bike Europe’s latest online magazine looks at the legal changes being made and what is on the horizon, including the new batter y regulation aimed at developing a competitive and sustainable batter y industr y in Europe. Also, a new European standard for cargobikes is needed to help standardise the legal patchwork that exists throughout Europe. Find out more at: www.bike-eu.com/online-magazine

substantial part of this increase will come from Chinese exhibitors who are free to travel to European trade shows again after the pandemic years. But there will be more.

E - b i ke an d b ic y c l e pro d uction in Europe is gaining momentum. In the previous phase of creating a close-to-market production, investm ents were initia lly f ocuse d on assem bly After years of increased manufacturing, which were spurred by the hike in bic ycle sales during the pandemic, production volumes have reached such a level that the time has come to t a k e t h e next ste p. Unti l now, com p onents

were still largely sourced outside Europe, but that is changing quickly. Order volumes and investments at ex isting companies are growing, driven by the close-to-market strategies of bic ycle assemblers. At the Taipei Cycle Show in March, the first Taiwanese component manufacturer announced the opening of a European f actor y w h ic h wi ll h ave 99% European sourcing. More of these announcements are exp ected soon. At Eurobike, other industries will certainly display their capabilities to the b enefit of the bic y cle industr y . The critical mass necessar y to start up new production

United Kingdom initiates review of e-bike anti-dumping duties

LONDON, UK – The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has initiated a transition review into anti-dumping and countervailing measures on e-bikes imported into the United Kingdom from China.

The TRA will now try to determine whether dumping would likely continue or recur if the measures were no longer applied

After Brexit, the TRA was established in 2021 to exercise Britain’s new powers to police trade and investigate unfair practices after the country left the European Union.

Th e anti- d umpin g d uties f or C h ina-ma d e e -bikes were under discussion in the U K in 2 021. Fo ll owing an appea l f rom a sma ll group o f UK- b ase d pro d ucers, it was f ina ll y d eci d e d to continue t h e EU anti- d umping measures.

T RA c h ie f executive, O l iver Gri ff it h s, sai d : “Sales of e-bikes have been growing rapidl y in t h e UK in t h e past f ive years an d are no w w orth over £300 million [ € 346 million] per year. We will investigate whether existing t rade remedy measures are still j ustified to protect UK producers, takin g into account th e extra costs t h at t h e measures p l ace on consumers.” The investigation will cover the perio d f rom 1st Apri l 2022 to 31st Marc h 2023.

lines, in combination with the ‘green’ image of the bic ycle in the mobility mix, is coming into view for a g rowin g number of companies. Automotive is already a well-known player in the bic ycle industr y but has certainly not yet d ep l oy e d a ll its k now l e dg e an d k now- h o w to improve the bic ycle and/or its production. T h e crossover b etween t h e existin g b ic y c l e in d ustr y , carg o b i kes an d microcars, seen as the hot potentials for the years to come, makes it all the more necessar y to take the next step in production technology. Eurobike will show more of all of this.

Role of industrial design is changing immensely

ID Berlin MD, Norbert Haller:

France secures budget plan to strengthen domestic bicycle industry

The French government, whih wants to strengthen the place of cycling in the economy, has presented a plan to develop the bicycle industry in France. With a€2 billion budget and several goals, the plan will run from 2023 to 2027. This year, €250 million has already been released. In the bike industry, the goal is to assemble 1.4 million bikes in France by 2027 and 2 million units by 2030. In 2022, 854,000 bicycles were assembled in French. The project

French cargobike production value hikes

PARIS, France – The French cargobike market expanded rapidly in recent years. Many French companies saw the opportunity to assemble and sell their own models, as shown in an industr y overview published by the French cargobike organisation, Les Boîtes à Vélo.

In 2022, some 33,000 cargobikes were sold in France – an increase of 96% – while the average retail price paid last year for these bikes was €3,890. This and more information was published in the French Bicycle Observator y, a study conducted by the industr y association Union Sport & Cycle. The potential of the madein-France cargobike was already made clear in the study conducted in 2022 by Les Boîtes à Vélo, an association gathering the largest community of bicycle and cargobike companies in France.

According to the survey, the total number of such manufacturers increased from 26 in 2021 to 46 in 2022, which proves the dynamic of this product categor y. According to this study, the production of carg obikes in France in 2022 reached a total volume of 8,400 units with a ma rket value of € 30.4 mi ll ion , w h ic h is an i ncrease of 146% comp ared to 2021 ( € 2 0.7 million). Approximately 14% of sales were generated by exports. In detail, the total production was split between more than 3,000 3-wheelers and tricycles, 2,500 2-wheelers, 1,600 longtails and shorttails and just over 1,000 trailers. In addition, the cargobike industr y generated 219 direct jobs last year.

Made entirely with French components

“On a global level, the market is particularly driven by sales to families with longtails and 2-wheelers, without ruling out the importance of the B2B market. It should also be noted that about two-thirds of French products are almost

entirely made with French components,” commented Charles Levillain, one of the members of the association Les Boîtes à Vélo and CEO of FlexiModal, a company specialised in bike lo g istics. The market share of components ‘ Made in France’ stand out particularl y in wheels (73%), frames (66%), batteries (18%) and electric motors (12%)

The association Les Boîtes à Vélo is already l oo k ing a h ea d to 2023, estimating t hat t h e production of French brands should reach a market value of €47.3 million and a total of 282 jobs. The organisation also handed out a few suggestions to develop production in France. These include the need to support the market by easing regulations and providing financial incentives. Les Boîtes à Vélo also recommends stepping up investments to encourage innovation, to support joined machinery development projects through cooperatives and, finally, to enhance the value of the profession through training. (MC)

Jan-Willem van Schaik Editor in chief

Capital employed

The level of inventory, declining sales and high inflation were already the leading topics on the show floor at Taipei Cycle this year. As it looks now, this discussion will continue to dominate the industr y for the rest of the year. For some markets, the high level of inventory is a bigger problem than for others.

The market transition from regular bicycles to the more expensive e-bikes, on average, comes with a financial side effect that should not be underestimated. The typical e-bike retails for three times – sometimes even four times –the price of a regular bicycle. The more mature mar kets went through this stage of increasing capital employed some years ago already when sales were experiencing steady growth. All companies involved in the supply to these markets had already incorporated this impact in their business operations. For the upcoming markets where e-bike sales quickly picked up in the last three or four years, the situation proved to be different. Market unpredictability due to supply chain constraints and booming demand caused difficulties for market parties to handle the financial implications that come with the higher-priced e-bikes. This situation will not be over at the end of the year, despite insiders expecting the inventory issue will have calmed down by then. The e-bike mar ket will continue to expand, and this will come with ups and downs and bigger financial implications than the market is used to

janwillemvanschaik@vmnmedia.nl

is part of ‘France 2030’.

Photo: MFC

Dorel Sports take-over

and demand for e-bikes boosts 2022 financial results

Pon.Bike turnover doubles to €2.4 billion

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands –2022 was a historic year for Pon Holdings, with sales exceeding €10 billion for the first time in the company’s history. The bicycle cluster, Pon.Bike, contributed significantly to this following the acquisition of Dorel Sports and the ever-increasing demand for e-bikes. The company’s CEO, Janus Smalbraak, also states that order books are currently full.

The turnover of the bicycle division, with brands such as Gazelle, Cannondale and Kalkhoff, almost doubled from €1.3 billion in 2021 to €2.4 billion in 2022. This was mainly due to the acquisition of Dorel Sports, which was bought for a price of US$810 million (€740 million) in early January 2022. With a recorded turnover of €1.2 billion in 2021, Dorel Sports’ results were fully included in the overall turnover of Pon.Bike for the first time in 2022. As a result of this and of other acquisitions, including Cervélo, Derby Cycle (including brands Focus and Kalkhoff), Santa

Cruz and Urban Arrow, Pon is now considered the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world.

Increasing demand for e-bikes

The rise of the e-bike market is also responsible for the greatest growth in the bicycle market for Pon. More than 30% of the bicycles sold through bicycle dealers are e-bikes, and this growth is expected to continue worldwide in the coming year. Pon.Bike has given the starting signal for the construction of a state-of-the-art bicycle factory in Lithuania, where around 500,000 e-bikes and other bicycles will be produced yearly. In addition to the manufacture and sale of bicycles, Pon.Bike is also active in parts & accessories and new services such as leasing and subscriptions.

‘Full order books’

Pon Holdings CEO, Janus Smalbraak, states that electrification and digitisation are focus points for the company moving forward.

“The demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable mobility is high, and this is exactly where we are leading. Also, the integration of Dorel Sports with Pon.Bike is taking place at a rapid pace, making us a global player in top bicycle brands and e-bikes.”

He adds: “The hefty investments in cycling

infrastructure, particularly in Europe and the US, will continue to give the sale of e-bikes in particular extra support. The economy knows too headwinds in 2023, especially in Europe and the US. The economic slowdown will

also affect us, as well as the still faltering delivery of parts here and there. At the same time, we have started the year with full order books for our automotive, bike and equipment & power divisions.”

Shimano forecast reflects ongoing concerns in market

OSAKA, Japan – The forecasted slowdown in bicycle component sales for Shimano was not as strong as expected. For the first quarter of 2023, the Japanese manufacturer reports a net sales decrease of 12.5% from the same period of the previous year to JPY126,071 million (€856 million).

In February, Shimano was still anticipating on a 20% decline in net sales for 2023 for the whole company. In April, the company adjusted this forecast to a net sales decrease of 16.9%. Still, Shimano raises concerns over the

2023 market challenges amidst rising interest rates and other monetary policies on its main markets as well as the prolonged turmoil in Ukraine. “This all led to a slowdown in sales of completed bicycles while market inventories generally remained high, despite ongoing supply and demand adjustments,” Shimano wrote in a financial statement.

For the first quarter of this year, Shimano reported an operating income decrease of 26.4% to JPY 28,009 million (€190.2 million), while ordinary income decreased by 27.4% to JPY 28,596 million (€192.2 million) and net income attributable to owners of parent decreased 29.7% to JPY 20,203 million (€137.2 million). Specifically for bicycle components, Shimano reports a net sales result decrease

of 16.8% from the same period of the previous year to JPY 98,298 million (€667.4 million), while operating income decreased 31.8% to JPY 22,123 million (€150.2 million).

Forecast 2023

According to Shimano, the interest in bicycles continues to be high in Europe, and retail sales of completed bicycles, especially e-bikes, were solid. Market inventories generally remained at high levels, although some high-end models were in short supply. At the same time, sales in North America remained weak, and market inventories were at a consistently high level. In the Asian and South and Central American markets, although interest in bicycles was firm, sales remained somewhat sluggish due to

cooling consumer confidence on account of currency depreciation and rising inflation. However, in the Chinese market, sales remained strong, especially for road bikes, owing to the growing momentum of outdoor sports cycling.

In 2022, Pon celebrated the opening of a new Kalkhoff factory in Germany. Photo: Bike Europe

According to Shimano, the interest in bicycles continues to be high in Europe. Photo: Shimano

Giant Group’s Q1 results decline as high inventories affect market conditions

TAICHUNG, Taiwan – Inventory reductions in the European and North American markets, as well as the higher year-on-year comparison base, have had a direct impact on Giant Group’s first-quarter sales. The Taiwanese company reported a 9.6% sales drop in Q1.

Giant Group sales in Europe and North America were impacted by higher inventories of entry-level and mid-range products. Sales declined in the high single and double digits, respectively. Moreover, a cold European spring caused a late season start. As a result, it was not possible to reduce excess inventories. Interestingly, e-bike sales held a 32% share of the total Q1 group sales, with Europe continuing to be the most important market for this category.

Strong own brand performance in China

However, looking at the performance of Giant Group’s own brands (Cadex, Giant, Liv,

Despite sales drop, hGears’ e-mobility outlook remains positive

Momentum) in Q1 on a local currency basis, domestic sales in China showed an encouraging performance. Thanks to the recovery of consumer spending after the pandemic and the increased health awareness of Chinese consumers, the number of cyclists is increasing. This boosted the demand for bicycle products in the mid to high-performance categories to a Q1 sales increase of over 50%.

The Q1 sales value in 2023 dropped to TWD20.12 billion (€598.64 million). Due to price discounts and lower production utilisation, the gross margin fell to pre-pandemic levels at 21.9%. Operating profit amounted to TWD1.69 billion (€50.29 million, down 27.3%).

Pre-tax net profit fell as much as 41.3% to TWD1.52 billion (€50.28 million). Giant Group attributed this to non-operating expenses such as foreign exchange losses of TWD82 million (€0.24 million) versus a foreign exchange gain of TWD230 million (€0.69 million in the same period last year) and an increase in interest expenses.

Difficult outlook for 2023

Eyeing the general state of the global economy and the fact that the market is currently going through an inventory adjustment, Giant Group foresees a difficult 2023 for the entire bicycle industry globally. Although there are many challenges in the near term, Giant Group says the three main trends – e-mobility, ecofriendliness and fitness – will continue to drive sales of mid to high-performance products. As for medium to long-term growth in the bike industry, the Taiwanese remain optimistic. (JB)

SCHRAMBERG, Germany – According to precision gearbox manufacturer, hGears AG, its first quarter 2023 results are in line with expectations. The strong performance of the premium, luxury and sports car segments was not able to compensate for the decline of the two other business segments e-mobility and e-tools, but at least cushioned it.

hGears produces a series of drive trains and their components for various brands, including Finnish Revonte. Despite the e-mobility segment recording strong sales in the 2022 financial results, Q1 of 2023 paints a different picture. The company’s e-mobility business segment continues to be burdened by the high inventory levels of its e-bike customers. Thus, both lower demand and order postponements have had a direct impact on the German company’s e-bike sales. “As expected, we had a subdued start to 2023, particularly in January and February. This expected course of business development is already included in our assumptions and in our forecasts for the full year 2023, which we are sticking to,” explains hGears CEO, Sven Arend, who has only been in office since February.

Total revenue for the first fiscal quarter of 2023 was €28 million (down 17.5%). When looking at the individual business segment, e-mobility was down 29.1% compared to the same quarter last

year at €7.5 million. The e-tools segment was also down 31.6% at €8 million, whereas the conventional segment, which focuses on automotive, was up 9% to €12.3 million.

Preparing for strong growth

Given ongoing uncertainties and challenges in the markets, high inflation, continuously rising interest rates, geopolitical risks and high inventory levels amid ongoing shifts in demand trends, the hGears board remains cautious but confirms its previous outlook. This outlook expects consolidated sales in 2023 in the range of €129-€137 million. In 2022, e-mobility sales were €135.3 million and saw a small increase of 0.3% compared to 2021.

In the medium term (2-5 years), hGears is aiming particularly in the e-mobility business unit for strong growth. Albeit starting from a lower base, the company expects consolidated sales of around €180-€200 million: “In line with this growth target, the e-mobility business unit should account for around 55-60% of the Group’s total sales.” That, in turn, would be in line with the Group’s expansion efforts and strategic focus. (JB)

Orbea sees spike in turnover as exports drive growth

MALLABIA, Spain – The long-term growth strategy is paying off very well for Orbea. In the past seven years, the cooperative bicycle manufacturer has confirmed notable sales growth, which peaked in 2022.

Orbea accomplished an increase in turnover of 42% from €282 million in 2021 to €400 million last year. In its market outlook in May last year, Orbea forecasted a consolidated sales volume of around €350 million in 2022. The performance of Orbea on export markets was even better, as

this increased by 49% from €228 million in 2021 to €340 million last year.

Large enough to be an international player To accomplish its expansion, Orbea has doubled the structure of its workforce in three years and is likewise fast-tracking the recruitment of inter-

national talent. It now has a workforce of over 1,000 employees, 80% of whom are in posts created in the Basque Country. At its annual general assembly, Orbea announced that it has “reached the goals of becoming sufficiently large to be a key player internationally, with a standout proposal for the market and the aim of being one of the most sought-after brands by cyclists worldwide, while remaining loyal to its corporate identity and values as a manufacturer.” The result, after taxes and restructuring, is up 20% on 2021, which has strongly boosted its equity.

“We will carry on investing in developing state-of-theart technological solutions,” said Orbea.

A cold European spring has caused a late start to the season for Giant’s major market. Photo: Giant Group

hGears is aiming for strong growth in the e-mobility business unit in the next 2-5 years. Photo: hGears

Photo: Orbea

Ahooga raises €4 million for investing in close-to-market production

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Folding bikes specialist, Ahooga, has raised multimillions worth of funds to support the development and engineering of its next-generation compact e-bikes. Ahooga also wants to invest in production near its head office in Brussels “to reduce dependency on external parties, which can be cumbersome when supply chains get tight.”

The participating partners include Finance&invest.Brussels and existing shareholders such as VC fund Freshmen of former bike store owner Hendrik Winkelmans. Ahooga aims to manufacture its nextgeneration bicycles at its own assembly line near its office in Brussels, Belgium. Production is scheduled to start in Q4 of this year. “The decision to produce in-house is in part a lesson learnt from the Corona crisis,” says Ahooga CEO, Gokce Dogru.

Getting to market faster

“We have felt that bringing innovation to the market simply goes faster and at a higher quality if we control a bigger part of the value chain ourselves. Additionally, producing in

Belgium gives us the benefit of being close to our home markets. This improves our ability to control the quality of products, shorten lead times and reduce the bike’s carbon footprint,” adds Dogru.

The new product line will be launched to dealers and distributors across Europe at Eurobike and will be available to consumers later this year. The company also plans to extend its partnerships for the sales and servicing of its bikes with 3rd-party dealers. “At Ahooga, we are proud to be ‘makers’: designing, engineering and building distinguishing products for urban mobility,” Dogru explains. “Sales and after-sales service is a ‘métier’ of its own for which we partner with reliable and premium partners,” she concludes.

Rutger Olderhuis LLM

EU product safety law going mental

In my previous blog post, I mentioned that I was in ongoing discussions with the EU Commission about the snag that I found in the new EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). At the time of writing, I am still awaiting a response from the unit responsible for the automotive industry. I can understand that they might need some time to grasp the potential implications of the snag. Coincidentally, I am currently assisting an automotive client in developing a recall procedure. Naturally, I want this procedure to be future-proof, hence, to comply with the GPSR. However, this presents a dilemma. Today, automotive recall procedures typically require customers to schedule appointments with dealers for repairs. Pursuant to the GPSR, a dangerous vehicle, being non-portable, must be collected from the customer directly. It would be helpful if the EU Commission could clarify whether this new approach is strictly necessary or whether there is room for proportionality.

In addition to the far-reaching provisions on recall remedies, the GPSR contains many other provisions that go far beyond the current EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), which will be food for many more blogs to come. For example, the GPSR adopts the WHO’s definition of ‘health’ , which states: “The World Health Organization defines ‘health’ as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” . As a result, the concept of ‘product safety’ acquires a more expansive meaning and a new dimension. However, it is not an entirely new phenomenon, which can be demonstrated by the following examples. A Dutch tableware company introduced a new product line called ‘Dutch Glory’ , featuring traditional Dutch icons such as pancakes, cheese, clogs, and tulips. The problem was that it also featured an illustration of a smiling Anne Frank. After facing criticism, the company removed the products from the market. Another example is a play clay manufacturer who withdrew a “phallic-shaped toy” from the market in response to parental complaints. Given the GPSR’s extensive interpretation of safety and health, we can anticipate an increase in similar recalls.

The GPSR also places a greater emphasis on risk assessment compared to the GPSD. Unless already addressed by Union harmonisation legislation, the GPSR mandates that manufacturers conduct an internal risk analysis and compile technical documentation. This means that a manufacturer must perform a risk analysis and prepare technical documentation before introducing a product to the market in almost all cases. With the adoption of the WHO’s definition of ‘health’ , the risk assessment must also incorporate ‘mental health’ considerations. The GPSR, for instance, specifies that a risk assessment “[…] should take into account the health risk posed by digitally connected products, including their impact on mental health, particularly for vulnerable consumers such as children” . This expanded risk assessment approach may influence how we evaluate the risks associated with, for example, gaming, social media, and even emerging platforms like the metaverse. The bicycle industry should evaluate how the new safety principle of the GPSR applies to their specific circumstances and determine its relevance and potential impact.

In the meantime, I hope that the European Commission will soon be able give guidance on the interpretation of the new recall measures for non-portable dangerous products. If there would be room for proportionality, that would be extremely helpful for my clients’ recall procedure. And good for their health.

Rutger Oldenhuis is the founder and owner of RecallDesk, specialist in product compliance, safety and recalls.

Contact: rutger@recalldesk.com

Ridley and Eddy Merckx owner invests in e-bike production in Europe

BERINGEN, Belgium – The Belgian Cycling Factory (BCF), known as the owner of the sports bike brands Ridley and Eddy Merckx, is diversifying into new bicycle categories. The company will also focus more on e-bikes with a €15 million investment.

Known as a high-end road-bike manufacturer, BCF is going to focus more on the booming e-bike market. The future strategy of BCF requires a total investment of €15 million which will be funded by the company’s own resources and bank loans.

In an interview published by the Belgium

platform Trend, BCF CEO Jochim Aerts announced the roll-out of a full line of e-bikes by 2025. “We have been investing in robotised frame production in Europe,” explains Jochim Aerts. “Our next urban e-bike, the Wave, has been designed in Europe, and its aluminium frame will be produced here as well. We regard frame production in Europe as essential for a more sustainable and stable supply chain. The pandemic showed us how relevant it is to have more control over the supplies.” In five years’ time, BCF targets producing 170,000-200,000 e-bikes annually. “We will manufacture our carbon sportive e-bikes in Beringen, while the production of the other categories will take place at our partners in Europe,” said Aerts. “All decisions regarding batteries, motor systems and frame geometry have been made.”

“Bringing innovation to the market simply goes faster when we control a bigger part of the value chain ourselves,” says Ahooga CEO, Gokce Dogru.

Photo: Ahooga

Online player Bike24 hit hard by high inventories in Q1 results

DRESDEN, Germany – In its latest financial statement, online retailer Bike24 Holding AG speaks of a “persistently uncertain economic environment”, which results in a year-on-year decline of its net sales by 10.5% to €55.27 million in Q1-2023. In addition, increasing financing expenses exceeded €10 million in the first three months of this year.

Despite all ongoing challenges, the Dresdenbased online retailer is confident that the high level of inventories in the market will go back to normal in the second half of 2023. “As expected, the first six months of 2023 are very challenging. In addition to the cautious consumer sentiment, we are also seeing the impact of the late arrival of spring in our main markets this year,” explains Bike24 co-founder and CEO, Andrés Martin-Birner.

Bike24’s turnover in the DACH region, year-onyear, declined by 13% to €35.24 million in Q1 of 2023. The impact of the current market conditions was much bigger for Bike24 in the rest of the European Economic Area where its turnover dropped by 29% to €8.29 million. In the rest of the world, sales were rather dramatic, with a decrease of 45% to €3.02 million. On some individual markets, though smaller markets, Bike24 could present a more positive figure:

German bicycle refurbishment marketplace asks for insolvency

MUNICH, Germany – Bikesale Solutions GmbH, Germany’s ‘first professional online bicycle marketplace for used bicycles’, asked for insolvency on 29 March. The appointed administrator is now looking for an investor for the ailing bicycle refurbisher.

Spain +50% to €2.71 million, France +165% to €3.73 million and Italy +138% to €2.28.

Situation slowly improving Bike24 is looking ahead positively. “In a market environment characterised by slow consumer sentiment, we succeeded in reducing old inventories and improving our floating capital management. At the same time, we have added attractive new merchandise to our range and are now ideally equipped for the upcoming cycling season,” said Bike24 CFO, Timm Armbrust, adding, “we are in pole position to benefit from the expected recovery of the sector.”

The online retailer is maintaining its forecast for 2023. This continues to assume revenue growth compared with 2022 of up to 10%. “We already see that the overall situation is slowly improving, and we expect to return to our growth path in the second quarter of this year. The cycling trend is intact throughout Europe,” concludes Martin-Birner. (JB)

Bikesale Solutions, the company behind the online shop bikesale.de, was founded in 2014 in Brunnthal, Germany. At the turn of the year 2022/2023, it moved its headquarters, including a workshop and showroom with 42 employees, to Munich. The exact reasons for the financial trouble of Bikesale Solutions GmbH have not been disclosed. According to industry observers, the company was growing too fast.

‘Growth potential is enormous’

Dr Max Liebig of the Munich law firm Liebig Insolvenzverwaltung Restrukturierung has been appointed provisional insolvency administrator. Liebig sees a sale as a promising opportunity for the continuation of the company.

“The strong trend toward refurbished products is not limited to the bicycle market. Sales volumes for used bicycles are rising continuously. The growth potential is enormous. That’s why, together with the management, we are looking for an investor to finance further expansion.”

While Liebig is currently concentrating on oth-

er possible measures, he has commissioned the Munich-based M&A consultancy Falkensteg Corporate Finance GmbH, which specialises in restructuring and real estate, to handle the international sales process.

Falkensteg, meanwhile, is touting Bike Solutions’ business operations as having an in-house developed IT platform, optimised refurbishment, and a strong logistics network: “Bikesale Solutions buys, refurbishes and sells used and new e-bikes. Primarily, the start-up takes over used bikes from the bike leasing sector and prepares them for the secondary market.”

The leasing returns, which are around one to three years old, would be professionally refurbished at Bikesale Solutions and then sold via the company’s own online store and an outlet store in Brunnthal. Thus, the company already has an existing infrastructure behind it along the entire value chain, from purchasing to refurbishment as well as logistics to online and stationary sales. (JB)

Advanced Sports applies for insolvency in self-administration

MUTLANGEN, Germany – The challenging market situation became too much for Advanced Sports GmbH. According to an announcement of the responsible district court Aalen in Germany, the company filed for insolvency in self-administration as of 3 April 2023. The company is the European distributor of the bicycle brands Fuji, Breezer and SE Bikes and sells to more than 30 countries.

An official statement mentioning the reason for this insolvency in selfadministration has not been issued yet. The fact is that almost all bicycle

companies are currently facing overstock. Advanced Sports GmbH is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based investor Advanced Holdings.

Attorney Erion Metoja of the law firm Eisner

Rechtsanwälte GmbH in Lauda-Königshofen was appointed as administrator.

Impact on the business

Insolvency in self-administration is comparable with Chapter 11. The company remains in control over its financial administration and assets. These are not passed on to an insolvency administrator but remain with the debtor company and its management. Business operations are continuing as usual and new orders are also being accepted. (JB)

The challenging market situation became too much for Advanced Sports GmbH. Photo: Jo Beckendorff

Whilst relying on online sales, Bikesales Solutions also operates an outlet store in Brunnthal, Germany.

Photo: Bike Europe

Despite ongoing challenges, the Dresden-based online retailer is confident that the high level of inventories in the market will return to normal in the second half of 2023. Photo: Bike24

BGF fund invests in Brompton to lift current export level above 80% Pure-player Alltricks exceeds €200 million in sales; a 30% rise in turnover

LONDON, UK – The British BGF investment fund has taken a minority stake in supporting Brompton’s ambition to expand on international markets. Brompton Bikes confirmed to Sky News and RetailWeek a £19 million (€21.8 million) equity raise to fund the expansion.

The deal gives BGF an 8.5% stake in the company, approximately equal to the holding of chief executive Will Butler-Adams, and values Brompton Bikes at £200 million (€212.8 million), including the new funds. Initial reports on the upcoming investment by BGF were already reported by SkyNews. In the official statement published by BGF, ButlerAdams said: “Over the last two decades, Brompton has grown organically at circa 20%

a year, funded by reinvesting our profits. For the financial year ended March 2023, turnover grew 21% to £130 million (€149.5 million).” For the previous financial year, Brompton reported an increase in turnover of 40% from £76 million (€87.4 million). The British folding bikes retailer said it exports 80% of its bikes to 46 countries, with China, Germany and America being its biggest markets.

‘We need to move faster’

“In November 2022, we made our 1-millionth bike. But this is not enough; we need to move faster. The impact of climate change is being felt by us all, and the greatest carbon emissions come from our cities where most of the world’s population now lives,” adds Butler-Adams. One of the strategies for Brompton to expand is to increase sales via direct-to-consumer sales. Therefore, the company has already increased its stock of finished goods, as Brompton reported last year in their 2022 financial statements.

Daina Spedding, an investor at BGF: “From the outset, there has been a clear synergy between Brompton and BGF, with shared long-term goals and a focus on sustainable growth that is good for both people and planet. We look forward to supporting the business as it continues to expand into new markets and invest in new technologies and manufacturing capabilities to meet the ever-growing demand for its revolutionary cycling range.”

MONTIGNY-LE-BRETONNEUX,

France – Alltricks, the omnichannel pure-player, reported a turnover of €219 million in 2022. This represents a 30% increase compared to 2021. This figure includes the activity of Troc Vélo, the first specialised second-hand site that Alltricks acquired in March 2021. Last year, this company recorded a 65% growth in active classifieds, generating a transaction volume of €49 million.

Founded in 2008 and owned by the French group Décathlon since 2019, Alltricks is mainly focused on the sale of bikes, components and accessories, but also on running and outdoor products. In 2022, the pureplayer shipped nearly 6 million items from 876 brands via its online platform but also in its physical stores.

The company’s catalogue contains 160,000 items. The physical retail network consists of six shops with an average surface area of 450 square metres. Thanks to synergies with Décathlon, Alltricks is going to expand its shop with some new openings. In April, the pureplayer opened a seventh store in the Décathlon

Campus in Villeneuve d’Asq. With a surface area of 360 square metres, this new store will offer around 300 brands. Later this year, Alltricks has already scheduled an eighth store in the Décathlon Village in Mérignac in the south-west of France. Alltricks also launched a second-life service six months ago. For this activity, Alltricks buys back used bikes from its customers, then reconditions and resells them itself, with a twoyear warranty. Since the launch of this service, 7,000 bicycles and components have passed through its hands and sold to consumers.

A second warehouse is coming

To support its growth, the company is building a second 25,000-sqm warehouse, which will be located in Châteaudun (Eure-et-Loir). The opening of this new warehouse is scheduled for September 2023. The new building will be able to accommodate up to 300 employees. From its headquarters in Montigny-le-Bretonneux (Yvelines), the company plans to develop its export sales and expand its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects. (MC)

One of the expansion strategies for Brompton is to increase direct-to-consumer sales.

Photo: Brompton

In April, Alltricks opened its seventh store in the Décathlon Campus in Villeneuve d’Asq. Photo: Alltricks

Pedelec-driven 4-wheelers: game-changers for future mobility?

Re-thinking industrial design

BERLIN, Germany – Cargobikes and microcars have opened a wide field of innovation and market potential by filling the gap between bicycles and cars. Bike Europe spoke to Norbert Haller, managing director of the Germany-based design and development company IDberlin about next-generation cargobikes, the role of industrial design, and his vision of future mobility.

Susanne Brüsch

You have been involved in light electric vehicle design and development since the late 1990s. Cargobikes are en vogue. Where is this trend leading, and where do you see the future?

Cargobikes will continue to evolve as they are a true alternative to cars, especially in cities. Digitalisation, the demand for sustainability, the lack of space in urban areas and the need to transport goods have opened a market segment with big potential. Light cargo bikes are already very successful. I see a lot of potential in pedelec-powered microcars and heavy cargobikes that are small, sturdy and digital. Artificial intelligence and autonomous driving offer a wide field for innovation and can provide part of the solution to solve the space problem in inner cities. Thanks to automatic updates, we will be able to upload new functions to existing vehicles at any time. Chainless driving and better weather protection will increase driving comfort and safety levels and will take away the last concerns that people may have to step on a pedaled vehicle.

Talking about heavy cargobikes, the Mubea U-Mobility earned the title of Cargo Bike of the Year at IAA and won numerous design awards. IDberlin was responsible for the concept and industrial design of the vehicle. What makes the U-Mobility a role model?

The Mubea U-Mobility bike is a pedaled 4-wheel vehicle built by automotive standards. It is platform-based and has a modular setup. Its universal frame construction can be combined with a variety of modules, depending on the application. The technical design team put

a lot of effort into building an extremely solid frame and giving it a stylish look without exterior cladding.

The bike is characterised by its light weight of 120kg at a payload of 500kg. It is two metres high and offers enough space for commercial delivery. At the same time, it is only one metre wide and is still permitted on cycle lanes. A vehicle this high and narrow, lightweight, and robust requires extremely well-balanced riding characteristics. As an automotive supplier, the Germany-based company Mubea has the resources to develop and produce the specific components required. The suspension, for example, was composed of double wishbones on the front and rear axles with a spring suspension strut and stabiliser bars. For the driver’s safety, a front bumper and side edge protection were specifically developed. Meanwhile, Mubea has started relationships with big players in the logistics industry, such as Amazon, UPS, DHL.

What do you see as the biggest challenge to build a successful cargo vehicle?

The extreme complexity of the vehicle and the processes around it. The vehicle needs to meet a long checklist of requirements such as lightweight at high payload, highest safety standards and durability. At the same time, it needs to be service-friendly, competitive in price, multifunctional, etc. But to be successful, the vehicle itself is only part of the game. The other part is composed of a suitable business model, corre-

sponding payment methods, the right marketing strategies, and a wide service network. To reach sales quantities, it is extremely important that the vehicle is built as a multifunctional platform that can serve as many applications and market segments as possible.

Sustainability is key today. How does this affect vehicle design and development?

We need to look at the vehicle and the process-

es around it as a whole. The demand for sustainability has an impact on the way the product is developed and produced, the materials used, the composition of the supply chain, sales service, and recycling processes. Sustainability includes far more than just a focus on regional suppliers and materials made of renewable resources such as flax, foam, and textile for example. We need to integrate the aspects of a circular economy into the whole design and development process. To better meet this challenge, we are currently participating in a study on how to build a cargobike platform of solely biological materials.

What is the role of industrial design as mobility evolves?

The role of industrial design is changing immensely. Product design is basically turning into process design. The focus is no longer limited to the look and function of a product but extends both ways to what happens before the product is built and what happens afterwards.

In practical terms, this means that the design team has to be involved in the development process from the very beginning and remain involved after serial production has started. Aftersales software updates, for example, add new features to a product that needs to be designed. For the next generation of vehicles, a big task will be to redefine how we see a vehicle and what we expect from it. New mobility requires a new design language. Key elements such as weather protection, safety features, sustainability aspects, and digitalisation offer a lot of opportunities in this context, but also big challenges. We need to bear in mind that commercial cargobikes are workplaces for people who are used to driving a Mercedes Sprinter or similar cars. This is what future delivery vehicles need to compare with in terms of comfort, ergonomics, safety, functionality, usability, and coolness. Sustainability and digitalisation add to the complexity of modern mobility. And it is the designer’s job to focus on the best solution that serves both the customer and the user alike.

“As an automotive supplier, the Germany-based company Mubea has the resources to develop and produce the specific components required for cargobikes,” says Norbert Haller, MD of IDberlin. Source: IDberlin

Product design is basically turning into process design…

E-bike sales thrive amid a market slowdown in Europe

ZEIST, the Netherlands – The European bicycle market ended up in the inevitable correction phase after the corona-related sales boom. It goes without saying that this situation was expected; but when?

The 2022 sales statistics reported until now by the national European industry organisations paint a clear picture. E-bike sales volumes increased by double digits, replacing the demand for mechanical bicycles. In general, the e-bike market share is growing steadily, and average prices are going up, boosting the market value. Except for France, e-bikes are sold at an average retail price above €2,000 The loss of mechanical bic ycle sales in most markets has gone faster than the growth that ebike volumes can compensate for. In combination with high inventories, this transition to edrives is causing headaches among various bic ycle suppliers in Europe. However, Europe’s two most mature e-bike markets – Germany and the Netherlands – have seen the same development in the past decade. The increase in the

number of e-bikes distributed did not keep up the same pace as the decline in bicycle sales volumes. This can easily cause a floating capital issue. It shows the importance of making balanced forecasts to keep up with the transition, as recent inso l vencies l i ke Prop h ete, Cyc l e Union, and Advanced Sports have shown.

Market growth bigger than in 2021

The 2022 statistics clearly show the hike in ebike sales as the market growth is substantially bigger than in 2021. In 2022, German e-bike sales increased by 10% (only 3% in 2021), in Austria by 11% (9% in 2021), and in Italy by 14% (5% in 2021). Despite all announcements on unstable markets earlier this year, the relevance of the e-bike market appears to continue to grow. Thanks to the high average price for an e-bike compared with a mechanical bike, the market value is also only expanding

Notwithstanding this market development, it impacts the parts and component industr y. Ebike assemblers and brands can make the most of the hi g her avera g e price, as mentioned above. For component manufacturers who are used to the high volumes, the e-bike implies a challenge. Market developments in Germany and the Netherlands in the past 10 years have shown that e-bikes bring new opportunities, like a wider c ycling audience, as well.

In the list of countries that have reported their 2022 sales, the UK is the big exception. For some reason, the e-bike market did not pick up, while

the market for mechanical bikes fell by more than 20% last year. Also, the number of e-bikes decreased last year by 3.1% to 155,000 units compared with 2021. In the UK, the e-bike market share is only 7.5%, which is not enough to create the right momentum for e-bike sales to take off. The number of e-bikes needs a certain level of penetration to convince a wider audience of riders to buy one, too. Other markets have shown that the market share needs to be 10-15% before the e-bike is accepted

Shared bike the new rising star?

Most European industr y organisations report only B2C sales and miss out one of the rising stars of the industry. After a failed start earlier in the previous decade with high-risk investments and unprofessional organisations, shared e-bike and bicycles are making a new start all over Europe. The new business models seem to work much better, although much of the success and the acceptance of the shared bicycles relies on the agreements made with local governments.

European bicycle imports turn around as value surges by 30%

ZEIST, the Netherlands – In a year that the market was troubled by supply chain shortages, the import value of bicycles saw a remarkable increase seldom seen before. In 2022, the price per unit was pushed up even more and recorded a growth of 38.2%. These figures mark a turn-around of the market value, which has seen a slow but steady decline since e-bike sales gained momentum.

As reported earlier, the European import value of e-bikes hiked by double digits and is now exceeding the value of bicycle shipments to Europe.

The massive investments in e-bike assembly in Europe, particularly in countries like Portugal, Bulgaria and Romania were thought to reduce t he de p endence on overseas p roduction. This is certainly not (yet) the case. Taiwan as the biggest supplier for the European e-bike market holding a market share of 47%, also Vietnam, China and Switzerland, report double digit increases.

Decrease in bicycle volume

Contrary to t h e market va l ue increase, th e total bicycle volume of the Asian exporting countries last year was less than in 2021. The total shipments of regular bicycles decreased by 6.37% from 5.4 million units in 2021 to just over 5 million last year. For a long time, the

leading supplier, Cambodia, stepped up their shipments by 18.44% to 1.2 million units. The countr y is now supplying almost a quarter of all EU bic ycle imports. Cambodia’s market share increased from 18.9% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2022. Most of the top-10 bic ycle exporting countries to t h e Euro p ean Union, h owever, record e d fewer shipments in 2022 compared with 2021. Bic ycle production from other Asian countries like China (-13%), Taiwan (-12%), Philippines (-74%), Sri Lanka (-14%), and India (-30%) is shifting towards others like Bangladesh (+7%), Tunisia (+32%) and Thailand (+68%)

New factories in Bangladesh

Currently, Bangladesh, in particular, is experiencing a boom in the construction of bicycle factories. According to the country’s Expor t Promotion Bureau, Bang l a d es h is active ly seeking to diversify its export basket with a focus on engineering products and bicycles to meet the growing demand in the international market. Bang la d es h is currently one o f t h e countries that benefit from the import duty-free status (or GSP) on bikes they sell to the EU.

Cambodia stepped up its market share in bicycle exports to the European Union. Photo Shutterstock

While 2022 sales are lower than in 2021 throughout Europe’s main markets, the e-bike continues to drive the market. What’s happening?

Leading in electric mobility Yadea - The leading brand of two-wheeled electric bikes and scooters

In 2022, the global e-bikes market is poised to hit approximately 36.5 million units expects Yadea, and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 10% between 2022 and 2030, reaching close to 77.3 million e-bikes by 2030. With this potential in mind, Yadea ventured into the e-bike market five years ago, assembling a technical team comprising top talent from China’s Top 5 universities.

Yadea continues to dominate the global market with over 70 million customers across 100 countries, 40,000 retailers worldwide, and an impressive six-year streak as the number one seller in the electric two-wheeled vehicle industry. Among Yadea’s notable achievements is its commitment to innovation, evident in the fact that 90% of the motors in its products are the outcome of independent research and development.

Advanced Mid-Drive Motor

What sets Yadea apart from its competition is its mid-drive motor technology. The core technology comprises four elements: a highly precise torque sensor, multi-sensor fusion with “high response” control, a “Highly Efficient Electric Power Assist System,” and Smart Connector. Yadea’s e-bike model design revolves around a mid-drive motor, positioned at the frame’s center to carry the load and enhance stability. The bottom bracket and torque sensor collaborate to manage alternating bending and torsion loads when riders pedal. The signal pattern recognition technology extracts torque signals from composite signals, ensuring precise detection and authenticity. Yadea’s

Multi-Sensor Fusion Technology

Yadea has made significant strides in

advanced multi-sensor fusion technology to enhance the riding experience for its users.

The company’s “high-response” multi-sensor fusion control system offers real-time data collection and analysis. This enables the control algorithm to determine the optimal motor power based on current speed, pedaling frequency, and road conditions. Yadea’s high-precision sensors ensure meticulous control of motor output power in demanding situations such as starting up, uphill climbs, and upwind rides. Yadea’s highly efficient electric power system has demonstrated impressive performance, with measured data showing that a mere 500 watt-hours of battery can achieve an electric power range of up to 120 kilometers.

More than Just an E-bike Yadea has launched a series of innovative ebike models featuring its advanced mid-drive motor technology, with the INNOVATOR standing out as a flagship product. The foldable city electric bike goes beyond traditional e-bikes, offering a stylish and high-performance design. The design is achieved through a magnesium monocoque casting body that provides higher strength than aluminum alloy. The TorqueTronic Technology, a self-developed feature that offers fast pedal response with smooth acceleration, is also a unique feature in this bike.

The smart mid-driven motor allows the Yadea INNOVATOR to travel up to 50 miles in eco mode, making it an eco-friendly option for urban commuters. Yadea’s innovative custom-

er support system uses a mid-mounted motor IoT module and mobile app for online fault diagnosis, enabling swift issue resolution through its extensive European service network. The system communicates potential faults to the Netherlands headquarters for quick dispatch of replacement parts.

The Yadea INNOVATOR features a Smart Battery Management System available 24/7 to ensure battery safety at all times. Its front and rear single-arm design enables it to fold down to a compact size of 0.27 m3 (9.535 feet), with a user-friendly magnetic folding buckle for stability. The Yadea INNOVATOR ebike model has garnered international acclaim, winning the prestigious International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) from the US and the Good Design Award from Japan.

The Future of Yadea

Yadea is poised to make significant strides in motor technology innovation in the coming years. The company’s primary focus will be on researching and developing high-speed motors that could revolutionize the e-bike industry, by pushing the boundaries of what is possible in motor technology. Yadea aims to create highly efficient and powerful e-bikes. To achieve these ambitious goals, the company will invest in cutting-edge facilities, collaborate with industry experts, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

sponsored by Yadea.

innovative sensor dynamic self-calibration technology automatically self-calibrates the sensor after each power-up.

E-bike sales on the rise as market share and turnover report growth

Fluctuating Italian bike market drops 10%

MILAN, Italy – The Italian bicycle market closed in 2022 with a 10% drop in total sales compared to 2021, but on a positive note, the sector’s turnover has risen 52% since 2019. The growth of e-bike sales on the Italian market is showing no signs of stopping, as the 4% rise market share shows.

Claudia Vianino

A‘physiological slowdown’ is how Italy’s national association for the bicycle, motorcycle and accessory industry, Confindustria ANCMA, explains the 2022 bike market trend, which is down 10% from the previous year. By this, it refers to the flipside of the coin brought about by government incentives, such as the global changes which have not spared the cycle sector, i.e., supply problems, rising costs, product shortages, and uncertainties linked to the geopolitical context.

In truth, sales in the traditional bicycle sector have been fluctuating over the past four years. After a booming 2020 (+14% on 2019), sales have registered a gradual decline, with -3% in 2021 and -15% in 2022, or -5% over the

four-year total. This is roughly in line with what has also happened in many other European countries.

E-bikes going from strength to strength

The case for e-bikes is different: +44% in 2020, +5% in 2021 and +14% in 2022, or +72% over the four-year total. These percentages vary, however, when considering turnover: +33% in 2020, -4% in 2021 and +18% in 2022. From this perspective, the resulting four-year overall figure is a surprise according to ANCMA: +52% from 2019. “Obviously, an e-bike costs more than a traditional bike,” but, as Piero Nigrelli, director of ANCMA’s bicycle sector, points out, “repairs, accessory sales and more generally everything that revolves around the bike, such as clothing, have also increased.”

Increasingly, e-bikes are leading the sales, with the market share rising to 19%, up from 15% in 2021. Of electric bicycle sales, 52% are urban and city bikes, 43% e-MTB, 4% e-road and e-gravel bikes. Interesting, for a country like Italy, is the increase of e-cargo bikes: +100% compared to 2021, or from 1,500 to 3,000 units sold.

Specialist dealers lead retail channels

The sales estimates shown by ANCMA describe a country that is still in love with the bicycle. Over 1.7 million (1,772,000, to be precise)

bicycles were sold in 2022, of which 337,000 are e-bikes and 1,435,000 traditional bikes, representing a turnover of €3.2 billion. These bikes were sold through four sales channels, mainly supermarkets or large-scale distribution, large-specialised retails, online channels and 3,800 bicycle shops. ANCMA’s figures show that Italian cyclists still trust their local dealers since the specialised shops contributed more than 68% of the yearly turnover.

In the traditional bikes segment, 29% of sales still come from mountain bikes, 26% are city-trekking bikes, 15% kids’ bikes, 2% folding bikes, and the remaining 8% is split between racing and gravel bikes. With a production of almost 130,000 units per year, Italy is probably the largest country with such a high per capita value of racing and gravel bikes.

Domestic e-bike production on the rise

The industrial indicators of the Italian sector follow the trend of a market that is moving in tune throughout Europe: a plus sign for the production of e-bikes, up 10% over the previous year, following the increase in domestic demand. On the flip side, domestic production of traditional bikes has dropped 18% from 2021 to a total of 2,385,000 units. The overall picture, however, is that of an active industry which not only produces quality bicycles but also, above all, quality parts. The bicycle parts sector in Italy is worth €600 million, more than 90% of which is exported. Frames, pedals, group-sets and saddles are the components that drive sales.

On the sector’s trade balance – or the account that records exports and imports – the effects of factors such as difficulties in the supply chain and the rising cost of raw materials weigh most heavily. Although there is a decrease of 20% in exports of traditional bikes and 14% in imports, 2022 is marked by a general increase in the value of these items, especially imports of bike parts, which rose by about 50%.

Support for reshoring

This last issue has prompted ANCMA to insist with the Italian government to consider supporting (also in relation to the EU industrial strategy) reshoring processes, i.e., bringing components production back to Italy and Europe, precisely because of the economic and strategic importance of the bicycle sector

in Italy and its potential growth.

According to ANCMA’s data, there are about 250 Italian companies working or involved in the bicycle industry, employing more than 40,000 people, directly and indirectly, for a total industrial turnover of more than €2 billion. In addition to this is cycling tourism, which is becoming increasingly important in Italy. It is assisted by 4,855 bike-friendly accommodation facilities and over 800 bike rental operators.

“The importance of the role that the bicycle has conquered today in our mobility and sport is a value that brings with it a great industrial tradition of excellence,” said ANCMA president, Paolo Magri, when commenting on the data.

“Our cyclists are asking for more safety and cycling infrastructure. We believe that the time has come to move from ‘incentives to purchase’ to ‘incentives to use the bike’ . As an association, we ask, on the basis of the recent indication of the European Parliament, to lower the VAT rate on bicycles and on the products of the supply chain: an intervention that, together with the promotion of the culture of cycling, can activate virtuous processes much more structural and effective than incentives to purchase.”

Magri also made a strong appeal to Giorgia Meloni’s government, which would be thinking of implementing compulsory helmets, licenses, insurance and number plates for e-bikes. “For the industry, this would be a resounding own goal which would obviously lose a lot of appeal for products that should instead be supported,” he said.

Piero Nigrelli, director of ANCMA’s bicycle sector, returned to the stage this year for a presentation of Italy’s bike market data for 2022.

Photo: ANCMA

Timyo - from an assembler to an R&D-driven company

On the way to becoming a trendsetter

supply chains through their big market shares. And at the same time, their standards and technology very much define what an e-bike has to look like. We want to change that,” he continues.

From assembler to innovation driver

With the e-bike market expanding rapidly and consumers worldwide embracing the shift to cleaner, greener mobility, bicycle manufacturers are more in the spotlight than ever. This applies all the more as strong economic growth is predicted for the bicycle industry over the next decade, despite the current supply bottlenecks. After all, quite a few experts assume that e-bike sales in Europe alone will continue to multiply until 2030.

“The e-bike is certainly one of the trend-setting products at the moment. However, my observation is that we as an industry are slowing ourselves down a bit,” says Zhu. He is the CEO of the Timyo Group, a Netherlands-based company that designs, develops, jointly manufactures, and sells electric bicycles, mainly under its brands Van Dijck, Keola and Muon. “There are a few companies that dominate the

When speaking to Zhu, you can immediately feel his enthusiasm and determination – a determination that is very well reflected in the rapid development of Timyo over the last few years. Since its foundation in 2015, the company has not only developed into an international player but also quickly earned a reputation for producing high-performance, stylish electric bikes that cater to a wide variety of users. Combining sleek design with functionality, the company’s bikes have become popular choices for commuters, leisure riders, and fitness enthusiasts alike.

“However, as the industry evolves, we have adapted our approach to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in this competitive space,” Zhu explains. “That is even more the case as we have to overcome challenges such as supply bottlenecks, the global economic situation or the structures in the bicycle industry that have already been mentioned.”

The CEO refers to several strategic decisions in the last few years that have transformed Timyo from being an assembler to a company that is now on the verge of becoming a trend-

setter in the industry regarding e-bike design and technology.

R&D driven

To overcome supply chain bottlenecks, Timyo opened its own frame factory in China, a subsidiary of Timyo’s owner, Nantong Dingyu Vehicle Industry CO. LTD., and assembling facilities in Lithuania and the Netherlands.

Additionally, by realising the potential for growth and the importance of innovation, Timyo has also started a strategic shift to focus more heavily on R&D. This decision reflects the company’s desire to drive the industry forward, pioneering new technologies and solutions that will make e-bikes an even more viable and attractive transportation option. Zhu gives insight into what this strategic shift

actually looks like: “By having big brands defining standards, etc., many e-bikes today look very similar. But we are confident that this will change in the future. Therefore, we are working hard on redeveloping components and redefining their design. The result of these efforts will be e-bikes that will be smarter, more integrated, and easier to assemble,” he says, predicting that the new strategy will also make Timyo more competitive when it comes to the pricing of the bikes. “Since we now have everything in-house – from R&D to assembly – we can also produce at lower costs without compromising quality. And we are less dependent on others. That will surely be another boost for our development.”

From producing 50,000 e-bikes per year to more than 200,000 in 2026, the international Timyo Group based in the Dutch town of Roosendaal has set itself big goals. According to CEO Steve Zhu, the key to success will be an even stronger focus on R&D and smart e-bike solutions.

E-bikes driving turnover with sales generating 45.66% of total market value

Urban bicycles and e-bikes take the lead in Spain

MADRID, Spain – Following two record-breaking years, the Spanish bicycle industry closed 2022 with a downward readjustment in sales and turnover but very positive figures for employment and national production. Some 1.357 million bicycles were sold last year, which is 13.6% less than in 2021.

Jan-Willemvan Schaik

The market adjustment aligns with the trend in other European countries. In both 2020 and 2021, more than 1.5 million bicycles were sold in Spain. Due to the supply chain problems, it was already clear that this situation was not sustainable and resulted in a sales slowdown last year. The industry’s turnover declined by 6% to €2.714 billion, according to the latest market statistics published by the Spanish Bicycle Industry Association (AMBE).

‘Not an easy year’

“2022 has not been easy for the bicycle industry, but the increase in employment, the creation of companies and the positive performance

of electric and urban bicycle sales reflect what the sector can offer to Spanish society: cleaner mobility, jobs and business opportunities,” said Javier López, president of AMBE.

The bicycle categories with the best sales performance in 2022 were city bikes, which increased sales by 22.5% to 146,572 units compared with 2021. The performance of city bikes is even more remarkable, knowing that cycling has always been very much focused on sports. City bikes now hold a market share of 10.8%. The number of e-bikes distributed in Spain rose by 5.7% last year to 236,183 units. For all other categories, AMBE reports a decline in volume.

E-bikes hold the largest market share

For the third consecutive year, e-bikes strengthened their market position as the leading category in terms of turnover. In 2022, e-bikes generated 45.66% of the total market value, with only 236,183 units distributed. The following category in market value is mountain bikes, traditionally the leading segment in terms of turnover, with a market share of 28.45%.

The largest decreases in sales compared to the previous year were recorded in gravel bikes (-34.35%) and mountain bikes (-23%).

In 2020 and 2021, the industry made a huge step forward. Compared with 2019, the turnover of

the bicycle sector in Spain in 2022 was 45.1% higher. However, 2022 did not match the sales and turnover data of 2021 in several categories. The market value decreased by 6% from €2.888 billion in 2021 to €2.714 billion last year.

Market performance better than expected

Jesús Freire, secretary general of AMBE, pointed out that in 2022, the market performed better than expected. “The Spanish government doesn’t provide any state aid for the purchase and repair of bicycles, as our neighbouring countries have, or tax incentives for cycling to work or acquiring fleets of bikes. Other European countries like France or Germany enjoy institutional support to get more people to access a bicycle as a form of daily mobility.” Domestic bicycle production increased by 2.8% in value in 2022 compared to the previous year to €255.8 million (more than double the data recorded in 2019) and is the best bicycle production data by turnover in the historical series, according to statistics from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Bicycle exports also increased by 76.5% compared to the previous year and tripled the figures for 2019. In Spain, 189 national manufacturers of bicycles, parts and accessories are registered, which is 5% more than in 2021. The Spanish

Madrid’s cycling infrastructure is probably not as good as it should be. Urban bicycles was the biggest growing category in 2022. Photo: Shutterstock cycling industry is shifting its focus to export markets as well. The total export value hiked by a staggering 76.5%, while local production increased by only 2.8%.

Boost in average retail price

The average price of a bicycle sold in Spain exceeded €1,000 for the first time and ended at €1,121. This hike was mainly thanks to the average price of electric bicycles (€2,940) and the growing popularity of gravel bikes, with an increase in the average price of 42.4% to €1,589. On the other hand, the average price of urban bicycles dropped slightly by 0.4% to €305.

A70.

Market continues to rely on the dominance of Chinese imports

US e-bike sales tips 1 million units

WASHINGTON, US – Imports continue to dominate the US bike market with China being the largest source of imported bikes. Although the import market share rose slightly last year, the actual number of imported units dropped by 33% last year as American consumers cut back on spending. Although not yet meeting their potential, e-bikes are increasing their presence on the market.

Rosie Burgin

US bicycle and e-bike retail sales figures are hard to come by, and those that are published generally do not include the large number of bikes purchased online. It is highly likely that retail sales last year were well below the total of 13.4 million units imported and produced as large increases in bike inventory in warehouses have been noted, the Coalition for a Prosperous America reports.

While 2022 sales volumes were reported to be down 10% versus 2021, they still came in at US$7.4 billion (€6.8 billion), which is approximately 30% higher than the value achieved in sales back in 2019. Like in Europe, the US is feel-

ing the pressure of huge inventories prompting US market specialist Jay Townley to declare that a shakeout is imminent in US bicycle retail. Seduced by the bicycle boom during the pandemic, large orders were placed in 2021. Those orders finally started to land on west coast docks in late 2021 and early 2022, just in time for consumer purchases of bikes to slump. Major and minor players in the industry are feeling the strain. Specialized, headquartered in California, announced a layoff of 8% of its global workforce this January. Parlee, a boutique maker of highend bikes, declared bankruptcy in February.

E-bike sales boosting market value

The e-bike sector is defying

the bike downturn.

Overall, e-bike sales more than tripled between 2019 and 2021. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that e-bike sales rose 25% last year to 1.1 million units. That means Americans bought more e-bikes last year than any other electric vehicle. E-bike sales, while still well behind European results, continue to grow steadily, now reaching some 19% of the total market sales dollars and approximately 4% of the unit shares sold in the US. This probably is underrepresented as there are a significant number of brands selling (mostly less expensive) e-bikes direct-to-consumer (D2C). The most prominent omnichannel e-bike supplier in the US is Rad Power Bikes. E-bikes’ lithium-ion batteries have become a

major cause for concern and have frequently been cited as the cause of major fires. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wrote an open letter to more than 2,000 e-bike, e-scooter, hoverboard and e-unicycle manufacturers and importers, calling on them to demonstrate compliance with the safety standards. The New York City Council passed a measure early in 2023 that requires all e-bikes sold in New York to be certified to the UL2849 standard and batteries, when sold separately, to meet UL2271. But that law will not regulate e-bikes or batteries purchased over the internet, most of which come from China.

Made in China?

The US bicycle market is one of the goods markets in the US that is overwhelmingly dominated by imports. China is the major supplier to the US market but saw its market share fall by 9% last year to 76.5%. In 2018 and 2019, the thenpresident, Donald Trump, levied tariffs of 25% on most bikes and bike parts coming from China. Exclusions for certain types of bikes weakened the impact, but nevertheless, substantial trade diversion followed. Cambodia has been the biggest beneficiary. Cambodia went from around 100,000 bikes imported into the US in the pre-Trump years to 1.34 million and a 10.1% market share last year. Vietnam also benefited, rising from close to zero in 2018 to 270,539 last year, or 2% of the US market.

According to industry sources, though, as many as three-quarters of the bikes that came from Cambodia and Vietnam may have been mislabelled to avoid tariffs. Under US Customs and

Border Patrol rules, a bike’s origin is determined by where the frame is manufactured. If a frame is manufactured in China and shipped to another country for final assembly, it should still be labelled ‘Made in China’ for Customs purposes. Domestic production continues to gain some traction thanks to the French-American investment group specialised Cardinal Cycling Group (CCG), which is based in Little Rock, Arkansas. CCG took over Detroit Bikes in early 2022 and is now positioning the Detroit Bikes factory as a manufacturing hub for bike brands, with an emphasis on e-bikes. The factory will soon be doing most of the manufacturing and all the assembly of electric pedal-assist bikes under the Vela brand. In another boost to local production, Time Bicycles (acquired by CCG in 2021) is investing US$6.5 million (€6 million) to build the largest carbon fibre bicycle factory in the US, located in South Carolina.

eu.industrial.panasonic.com/ products/e-bike-systems

E-bike sales continue to grow steadily in the US and now account for 19% of the total bike market value.

Photo: Rad Power Bikes

Accouting for 3-quarters of the sales value, e-bikes continue to break records

Austrian e-bike sales crack €1 billion mark in 2022

VIENNA, Austria – The Austrian bicycle market once again broke records in 2022; both unit and value sales topped those in 2021, with the total sales value amounting to €1.39 billion. More importantly, e-bike sales alone cracked the €1 billion mark for the first time, accounting for 74% of the sales value.

Jo Beckendorff

Over the last five years, total bicycle unit sales in Austria have settled at a high level of around 480,000 units per year. As far as 2022 is concerned, the 506,159 units sold through the domestic bicycle and sporting goods specialty retail world are up 3.2% compared to 2021. From these unit sales, around 247,000 were e-bikes, which represents an increase of 11%. This gives e-bikes a 49% market share. In other words, every second bicycle sold in Austria was an e-bike.

E-bikes account for 74% of total value sales, and the Vienna-based Austrian Association of Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Sports Equipment Suppliers (VSSÖ) notes that, thanks to tax benefits from company bike models, customers are increasingly reaching for higher-priced ebikes with extensive equipment.

Last year, Austrian consumers spent an average of €4,203 (up 23.3%) on an e-bike. In comparison, for non-motorised bicycles, the average price was €1,790 (up 39%) and for kids and juvenile bikes, €473 (up 4.2%). As far as e-bikes are concerned, with over 127,000 units (up 9.8%), ecity and e-trekking models were the best sellers. This was followed by e-mountain bikes (hardtails and full suspension) at 105,000 units (up 4.6%). The biggest sales jump, however, was achieved by e-cargo bikes. Here, sales hiked by 89% year-on-year to 4,223 units. In addition, 552 cargo bike units were sold without a motor.

Austrian subsidies spur on sales

In terms of ‘bread and butter’ bicycle sales, the cyclecross and gravel-bike category saw the biggest upshift. With 115% growth, unit sales more than doubled to 10,187 units. The second-largest growth was achieved in the folding bikes category (3,917 units, up 63%). This sector will certainly continue to grow – as of 1 March 2023 and in cooperation with the bicycle and sporting goods trade, the Austrian Federal Ministry for

Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) has extended the subsidy to folding bikes with and without motorised support. However, the onetime subsidy of €600 will only be granted if the consumer simultaneously buys or can provide proof of an annual pass for local public transport. At the same time, the subsidy for all cargobikes has increased from €900 to €1,000.

MTB bikes offer a twist

Surprisingly, traditional mountain bike sales increased by a double-digit 36%. Here, the development runs differently than, for example, in Germany, where MTB sales without “e” have halved in favour of rising e-MTB sales since 2019. The overall unit sales generated a turnover of around €1.39 billion. With this amount, the Austrians did not only significantly break the €1 billion barrier, but with the additional accessories and spare parts value, sales came to a total value of around €2 billion, states ARGE Fahrrad, which is affiliated with the Association of Austrian Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Retailers (VSSÖ).

“No problem” in 2023?

“Since the end of 2022, warehouses have been very well stocked again – for customers, this means full choice when buying bicycles,” notes VSSÖ. According to a snap survey conducted in March 2023 by ARGE Fahrrad, among domestic bicycle and sporting goods retailers, now is

the perfect time to buy a bicycle as numerous models are once again available directly. VSSÖ says that with Easter being the business opening of the new year’s bicycle season, a third of the survey respondents expect a similar turnover at Easter 2023 as last year. But on the other hand, 39% of respondents expect lower Easter sales, “most of them by minus 15%” . Time will

tell how the 2023 season pans out, and although there seem to be enough goods on hand, they are not always the right goods, particularly in the high-end sector. In addition, inflation will certainly also cause Austrian consumers to postpone one or other purchase decisions –whether with or without attractive government soft mobility subsidies.

E-city and e-trekking bikes, in particular, are growing in Austria, thanks, in part, to government subsidies.

Photo: KTM

Okawa: Elevating customer service in a maturing industry

Setting a new standard

As the e-bike industry transitions from the early adoption phase to a more mature market, customer service expectations change significantly. Jack Brandsen, European General Manager at Okawa, sat down with us to discuss how his company addresses higher demands and provides support to their customers and dealers.

When a product category becomes more established on the market, it is a natural process that the expectations of the customer base also increase. On the one hand, this applies to the products themselves, which are supposed to become easier accessible, more efficient and, best of all, better and better. On the other hand, however, this development also refers to the expectations regarding the service offerings which should become faster, more streamlined and more customer-friendly.

“This is a typical development that is part of a market’s process of becoming more mature. A process that we can also observe in the ebike industry,” Jack Brandsen points out. He is the European General Manager at Okawa, an e-mobility start-up focussed on a wide

range of e-bike products, including drive units, batteries and displays. “A good comparison is the mobile phone business. Thirty years ago, customers were satisfied with repair times of two to three weeks. Today, they expect immediate solutions. The same will happen with ebikes”, he explains.

More mature service

For this reason, Okawa wants to offer precisely this more mature service. Founded in 2020, Okawa emerged from a division of the Yadea Group, which is considered a global leader in developing and manufacturing electric 2-wheel vehicles and, with a sales volume of over 14 million e-mobility vehicles per year, the largest of its kind in the world. With the Group’s strong R&D resources, procurement and manufacturing power, Okawa focuses exclusively on the e-bike market.

“In addition to good products, we also aim to offer a correspondingly high level of service. To achieve this, we are going our own way. We want to make it as easy as possible for all parties involved – no matter if it’s customers or dealers,” Brandsen says, referring to Okawa’s approach to service that revolves around three key elements: simplicity, accuracy, and speed.

From diagnosis to settlement

To make things as easy as possible for their

dealers and service agents, Okawa has developed an app that allows them to do software updates over the air but also diagnose issues quickly and accurately without the need for additional hardware.

However, the app not only helps with the diagnosis itself but also with the further handling of service cases. Thus, it streamlines the service process by directly sending all relevant information, including the dealer’s details and bank account number, to Okawa. The process is also simplified here: A crucial part of Okawa’s dealer support is their 4 years warranty policy, which covers replacement fees and ensures that dealers don’t bear the cost of repairs. In the event of a service case, the costs are automatically transferred to the dealer.

“Once a diagnosis has been made, it’s all about logistics,” Brandsen says. “Okawa’s primary goal is to minimize downtime for their customers, ensuring that replacement parts are delivered as quickly as possible. That’s why we have a same-day shipping policy: If a dealer submits a repair request before 5 PM, the replacement part is shipped out on the same day,” the This article is sponsored by Okawa.

European General Manager continues. With this approach, Brandsen aims to set a new standard for customer service in the maturing e-bike industry. In conclusion, Brandsen summarizes: “The e-bike industry is becoming increasingly mature. This development requires not only great products but also great service. With Okawa, we want to contribute to this development.”

PEDAL WITH PURPOSE: ECO-FRIENDLY FENDERS MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

Buoyant atmosphere at The Cycle Show in London as sector anticipates growth

UK e-bike market slowly gaining momentum

LONDON, UK – Despite literal bumps in the road, the UK’s e-bike market is on the rise, according to industry representatives present at the Cycle Show held in London this April. Dealers, manufacturers, and newcomers alike agree on one thing: a lack of infrastructure is slowing the market. Despite this, and the slow adoption of e-bikes compared to the rest of Europe, the UK is considered by some to be “the most exciting market in terms of growth opportunities.”

Rosie Burgin

The 20th edition of The Cycle Show was held at London’s Alexandra Palace from 20-22 April 2023 and welcomed 15,000 visitors across the three days. With e-bikes only having a 7.6% market share in the UK, selling 155,000 units in 2022, compared to more mature markets like the Netherlands and Germany, the annual show showed that this is not due to lack of activity.

Slow market acceptance

Strong European brands like Bosch, Bianchi and Riese & Müller were all present with a booth. “We are here for brand awareness,” explained Riese & Müller sales manager for

UK & Ireland, Michael Gregg. “We have a good dealer network already in the UK with 45 shops across the country, so we’re here to target end customers.”

Market acceptance is what’s holding the e-bike market back, Gregg suggests. “It’s taken a few years for the public to accept the product and change their mindset, but I think the UK market is now the most exciting in terms of growth potential. In fact, within Riese & Müller, the UK leads the way in the ‘noncycling countries’ – so excluding Germany, the Netherlands, France & Switzerland. You could say the UK is the best of the rest.”

Infrastructure across the UK is also a notable problem. “The only decent cycling infrastructure is in London, but there is so much potential across other cities in the UK like Manchester and Birmingham, for example.”

Experiences of UK e-bike brands E-bike manufacturer Volt reshored production from China to Milton Keynes, England, in 2020. Co-founder James Metcalfe also sees infrastructure and consumers’ slow adoption as bottlenecks. Still, he identifies another threat to the market: “A major threat at the moment is the financial institutions, and by that, I mean venture capitalists, etc., who are jumping on the bandwagon and investing in start-ups. This makes the field more challenging, as then you get companies with money behind them, but not necessarily a decent product.”

Not all newcomers are heavily backed by venture capitalists. Shark E-bikes, which was formed during lockdown, is one of several new brands aiming to get a foothold in the market. Located in Yorkshire in the north of England, the company launched after recognising the lack of e-bikes locally. The company has a range of products on the market, first targeting the lower-end market, with production in China. For the newest range on display at The Cycle Show, the company has switched production to Portugal for two of its e-bikes.

“Our end game is to be a UK manufacturer,” explains Rachael Bonnar of Shark. “We started production in China, and now we’re in Portugal, so we’re getting there.” The company’s first goal is to build up its dealer network across the UK. “It’s a very competitive market right now, particularly in the low-end market due to the cost-of-living crisis here in the UK.

I think we are well-placed with a good product to meet the needs of this category.”

Made in Europe

Production location is a major factor for another newcomer in the e-bike market, Ultima Mobility. The French manufacturer displayed its first e-bike, the Multipath, which is 98% made in the EU. The patented injectionmoulded frame is accompanied by the new motor from automotive supplier Valeo. “We have designed a bike for people who know nothing about cycling,” explains founder Jerome Mortal. “It is light and has automatic gears, so it is accessible to anyone.” The e-bikes are currently available in 50 stores in France, and the UK is the next market the manufacturer is targeting. “Our product is fully focused on less dependence on Asia. In the future, we envisage having micro-factories in the markets where we are selling to allow for a smooth supply.”

New UK distributor for Tern

That overstock is an ever-present issue in the UK market became apparent following the collapse of British distributor Moore Large in March. Brands represented by the company included Forme, Bickerton and Tern bikes, Lake shoes, Kenda tyres, Jagwire cables and KMC chains. Tern secured its presence at The Cycle Show, exhibiting its range on the side of the e-bike retailer Fully Charged’s booth. “We were supposed to have a large presence here with Moore Large, but of course,

those plans changed,” explained Mark Bickerton, Tern’s long-term partner. For the UK market, Tern has found a new distributor in One Generation Ahead (OGA) which handles Tern’s distribution in France, Italy, Finland, and Sweden. “We are now supplying the UK direct from Italy. It has been challenging, and it’s taken some time for a normal supply chain to be re-established,” says Bickerton, who is helping lead the UK team. “In the near future, a division of OGA will be set up for the UK market.”

Visibility of e-bikes

“There is a lot of stock on the market, and some people will be getting nervous,” the distributor for utility bike Benno told Bike Europe. This isn’t the case for Benno, he assures, with sales of utility bikes going up despite the high price point. “Our dealers have told us if it weren’t for e-bikes, they would not have survived. E-bikes are selling 20:1 to traditional bikes in some cases.” This embracement of e-bikes which should have been visible on the streets of London was not evident on the (sunny) Saturday afternoon of Bike Europe’s visit. However, a greater acceptance of cycling was clear with parking facilities, road markings (shared use of bus lanes) and many (non-electric) race/gravel bikes weaving through the traffic. If London is supposed to be the most advanced in terms of infrastructure, then it’s clear that more is possible to spur the e-bike market to much higher levels.

Meet the all new TCE Enduro series. These bikes are equipped with terrain-eating, custom-tuned Fox Performance Elite suspension and traction-spitting tires. High capacity batteries and Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrains with mullet wheel set up. Your best weapon to conquer the mountain. Any mountain.

London’s Alexandra Palace proved to be a grand location for the annual event.

Photos:

Cyclists sharing the road with busses is a common sight in London.

BESV CARBON E-MTB PUT TO THE TEST

A&C Solutions celebrates 15th anniversary in full expansion

From attic to global player

15 years ago owner Franky Vanlerberghe started A&C Solutions from his attic in a small village in Belgium. He envisioned a market for a true niche player in the distribution of connectors. With his connector expertise, knowledge of the local European market and his customer focus, he and his team guided A&C Solutions to the international player it is today. Still in full expansion.

Franky: “The first few years we had to establish our name and gain trust from both suppliers and customers in the Benelux. It wasn’t until 2012 when global player in lithography technology, ASML, became a customer that things really started to roll for A&C Solutions. We became firmly rooted in the industrial automation industry and the LED lighting market.”

Entering the e-bike market with Higo

In 2014 A&C Solutions became the exclusive B2B partner for Higo connectors in Europe. At that time, many manufacturers were still trying to get their heads around the successful integration of e-bike connectors into their new, sleek bike designs. “It was a totally different

business for many of them and it happened to be our expertise”, comments Kristof, product manager at A&C Solutions. “The focus of Higo on continuous innovation of signal, battery and motor connectors for the complete e-bike system together with our team of connector specialists in Europe was a hit in no time.”

Sustainable expansion

For the future A&C Solutions foresees an even bigger role for the company as a stock manager. That’s why it recently almost doubled its warehouse facilities to a 1000m2. “Being able to respond quickly to demand in the market from our customers is key for us. More room for hard runners and customer specific stock will allow us to increase our direct shipments within 24 hours after order receipt”, explains Franky.

These expansion plans go hand in hand with A&C Solutions’ ambitions to support a better future environment and to make the supply chain more transparent. Besides the sustainably built premises, A&C Solutions has also implemented the ISO 14001 EMS and has an action plan in place for the SDG goals of the UN. “Being part of supply chain platform Sustainabill also helps us and our customers to have clear insights and triggers us every time to look for ways to step up our sustainable initiatives towards the future,” says Franky.

Digitalisation is our future Digitalisation is the next big thing on A&C Solutions’ agenda. “We are convinced that to serve our customers even better in the future is to allow them to have instant and real time insights in orders, statuses and available stock. That’s why we plan to create a digital platform with integrated webshop and cus- This article is sponsored by A&C Solutions.

tomer portal in the near future”, explains Franky. In this way A&C Solutions aims to be the partner that not only customizes Higo ebike connectors to every customer’s needs but is also fully aligned with their day-to-day business.

Essenza+ Heating Tech

The Essenza+ Heating Tech introduces a new technology that harnesses the power of the e-bike in an unprecedented way.

Developed by Selle Royal, Heating Tech is a saddle heating system connected to the e-bike battery, easily activated by a button underneath the saddle. This unique technology brings the saddle surface temperature to 37° for a pleasantly warm seat on cold mornings or anytime the user decides.

Ask about Essenza+ Heating Tech at the Selle Royal Group Booth: A28, Pavillon 12.1.

A&C Solutions’ specialists with Higo’s e-bike connector range

Anti-dumping duties for Giant Kunshan reduced General Court of the European Union disagrees on the price comparison made by the European Commission

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Commission has agreed on the final judgement of the General Court of the European Union and imposed anti-dumping and antisubsidy duties on e-bikes from China made by Giant Electric Vehicle (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. The Commission also decided to lower the duty from 24.6% to 13.8%.

Jan-Willem van Schaik

This final decision might come as a surprise as in the first level judgement in May 2022 when the European General Court annulled the anti-dumping and countervailing duties implemented by the European Commission back in 2019 on e-bikes made in China by Giant Electric Vehicle Kunshan Co. Ltd. These duties were implemented by the European Commission back in 2019 “in order to prevent further injury being caused to the Union industry by the dumped imports of the product concerned”

The General Court found that the European Commission was not obliged to determine price undercutting margins and that it was entitled to

base its injury analysis and, therefore, the causal link on other price phenomena of the basic anti-dumping Regulation. These include significant depression of industry prices of companies producing in the European Union or prevention of price increases to a notable extent.

Reopening of the review

Fair comparison

However, the General Court initially did not fully agree with the price comparison made by the European Commission and wrote: “The Commission did not make a fair comparison when calculating the applicant’s price undercutting margin.” The General Court noted that the methodological error found had the effect of identifying undercutting of the Union industry’s prices, the importance or existence of which had not been properly established. Subsequently, the European Commission published the start of a review of this case last July.

During the review, the European Commission collected sample data from e-bike manufacturers in the European Union and their related trading companies. To ensure a fair comparison between Giant’s prices and the prices of the manufacturers in Europe, the Commission recalculated the undercutting margin of Giant by adjusting the weighted average sales prices of e-bike producers in Europe. In the Official Journal, the European Commission states that “following the correction of the methodological error identified by the General Court in May 2022, the levels by which Chinese imports have undercut the manufacturer in Europe have decreased to 17% on average. Although the levels decreased, there has still clearly been significant price dumping on imports from China.”

“Despite the reduction in the undercutting for some Chinese exporters, the fact that imports from the sampled Chinese exporters were undercutting the European industry sales prices to a significant extent remains. Thus, the revised undercutting margins did not alter the original finding about the existence of the causal link between the damage for the European manufacturers from dumped imports from China,” writes the EU Commission in the Official Journal. With that, the Commission regards its initial findings as fully valid.

Response from the industry

The Europe industry organisation EMBA confirmed to Bike Europe that it was content with the outcome of the review. The same question was asked to Giant Group, but they did not come back with a comment. Considering the revised significant undercutting margins, the Commission concluded that e-bike manufacturers in the EU suffered injury as meant in the anti-dumping regulation. Taking the comments raised by interested parties into account, the EU Commission decided to implement anti-dumping duties to Giant of 13.8%. A definitive antidumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of e-bikes currently falling under CN codes 8711 60 10 and ex 8711 60 90 (TARIC code 8711 60 90 10), originating in the People’s Republic of China and manufactured by Giant Electric Vehicle (Kunshan) Co., Ltd as of 19 July 2018.

“The Commission did not make a fair comparison when calculating the applicant’s price undercutting margin.”

Giant Electric Vehicle Kunshan took the case to the EU General Court.

Photo: Giant

New standard EN17860 will also include heavy cargobikes and heavy trailers

Cargobike standard a step closer to finalisation

SCHWEINFURT, Germany – During a recent meeting of the Dutch standardisation committee and European stakeholders, the completion of a standard for cargobikes was discussed. “A European standard would be helpful to standardise the legal patchwork that exists throughout Europe,” explains velotech.de MD, Marco Brust.

Jan-Willemvan Schaik

Bicycle industry representatives, scientists and politicians met in March with the Dutch standardisation committee in the Netherlands to discuss the development of a common European cargobike standard.

In October 2022, Pon.Bike subsidiary Urban Arrow took the lead in European cargobike standard development. Together they are developing the draft of the new standard EN17860. It now also includes heavy cargobikes and heavy trailers, whose standard was previously not sufficiently described.

Trailers that come with their own electric drives and brakes as well as single-track cargobikes

with an allowed weight of up to 250 kg, multitrack cargobikes with an allowed weight of up to 300 kg, and heavy cargobikes up to 650 kg are all described separately in the new standard. The working group with the abbreviation CEN/ TC 333/WG 9 consists, among others, of velotech.de MD Marco Brust, the trailer manufacturer NÜWiel, Riese & Müller, Urban Arrow, Accell Group, Shimano, Schaeffler, Bosch eBike Systems and Mando, as well as the Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, the German industry association Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) and others.

Product development becomes easier

The importance of a standard for cargobikes is explained by Brust: “Cargobikes have developed strongly over the past few years, especially those used for the transport of goods. A European standard would be helpful to standardise the legal patchwork that exists throughout Europe. Sometimes similar cargobikes are classified differently from one country to another. For example, in the Netherlands, the current maximum weight of 75 kg of a cargobike is being discussed.

In France, four-wheeled vehicles are not considered bicycles in some regions, and different rules apply in Germany.”

Brust noted that this hinders international trade and development but also causes various legal

issues. “That’s why the new European standard would help the industry move forward. On the one hand, export-oriented manufacturers will benefit because sales in the European Union will be easier. On the other hand, the standard facilitates the business as everybody clearly knows to what specifications the cargobike needs to comply,” he said.

Until now, cargobikes are tested according to the DIN 79010 standard, which was last revised in 2020 and was developed by velotech.de founder Ernst Brust as chairman. The new standard will supersede this standard. Sometimes standard for city and trekking bikes, EN15194 was also used for cargobikes but is no longer up to date for this category. In recent years, the weight of cargobikes has increased a lot. The old standards also do not take into account safety aspects for the transport of people, as well as the serial hybrids, like bicycles without a chain and toothed belts. The standard was discussed at the European level, and all objections were processed.

Pioneering role for velotech

The first German cargobike standard was brought to life by the founder of the test institute velotech.de, Ernst Brust, as chairman in 2013. The test institute had just been accredited by the DAkkS according to ISO/IEC 17025.

This accreditation was the basis for the recognition of test reports by authorities and helped manufacturers to develop safer vehicles. velotech.de was recently accredited for 10 years and is celebrating its anniversary as a pioneer in this specialised area.

„Ein Ausrufezeichen im E-Bike-Markt.“

E-Bikes made in Munich. Zu sehen auf der Eurobike.

Under the current regulation, cargobikes are classified differently from one country to another. Photo velotech.de

Pon brings Lithuania to the forefront as the country aims to step up its manufacturing capabilities

Europe’s next bicycle production hub

VILNIUS, Lithuania – The announcement by Pon Holding to construct a new e-bike and bicycle factory in Lithuania started a string of reactions in this small Eastern European country. With this new dynamic, the country has put itself on the map as the next bicycle production hub in Europe.

Jan-Willem van Schaik

In the series on Lithuania’s potential, Bike Europe looks into recent developments of the country’s industry. We visited some companies in Lithuania, including Baltik Vairas, Timyo, and Rubbee and discussed the investment climate with Invest Lithuania. It was not that long ago that the bicycle industry in Lithuania was known for one single company.

Founded in the Soviet days, Baltik Vairas only put itself at the forefront of the international bicycle industry after the take-over by Danish investor Niels Peter Preztmann and the Lithuanian capital fund LIT Capital in 2013. The next step came when Pon Holdings decided to outsource part of its production to Baltik Vairas. During the years of close cooperation between Pon and Baltik Vairas, the Dutch manufacturer

must have seen the potential of the country as their next production base.

Besides these two companies, also the Chinese investor Steve Zhu of Nantong Dingyu Vehicle Industry Co. Ltd. decided to open a production base in Lithuania as it is conveniently located between his bicycle frame factory nearby Shanghai, China, and its main markets in Europe. The assembly plant was opened after the implementation of the anti-dumping duties on Chinamade e-bikes by the European Union in 2019.

Stepping up manufacturing

At the country’s investment promotion agency, Invest Lithuania, the Pon announcement was one of the main reasons to study the international bicycle industry and see what Lithuania has to offer for foreign direct investors from this industry. Invest Lithuania also confirmed that they aim to step up bicycle manufacturing in addition to the automotive industry, which is already strongly present in this Baltic state. Two well-known names in the automotive industry – Continental and Hella – are regarded as important foreign direct investors. For them, just like Pon, the strong presence of a manufacturing industry and logistic services have been important reasons to choose Lithuania as a production base.

The Nordics and Germany have always been important investors in Lithuania. However, the

country is also moving towards the US and Asia for foreign direct investors. With that also comes Taiwan and its bicycle component industry into Lithuania’s scope. “This small Baltic state has many advantages over others as an investment base for the Taiwanese,” explains long-time Taiwanese investor in Lithuania, Waylen Yeh, to Bike Europe. In 2020, he founded Fortress Fac-

toring, a financial service provider between Taiwan and Central and Eastern Europe, to solve the challenges faced by companies such as credit guarantee, factoring finance and collection.

Why Lithuania?

Since the invasion of Ukraine, the political situation between Lithuania and Taiwan has

Powering the future of e-mobility

The mobility landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Europe alone witnessed a sales volume of 5.8 million e-bikes in 2022, reflecting a broader shift in consumer preferences. As an established player with substantial experience in the automotive industry, hGears is making significant strides in this evolving e-mobility landscape. At the upcoming Eurobike show, the company wants to further emphasise these ambitions.

Guido Tonin: “Based on the volume of units sold, the e-bike sector is already leading the development of electrification of the mobility sector in Europe.” He refers to the current statistics that show that electric bicycles outnumber battery-powered electric cars when it comes to sales volume data. The Italian is Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at hGears, a global precision manufacturing company with plants in Germany, Italy and China, that has been focussing strongly on the up-and-coming e-mobility industry in recent years. “Already today, almost every sec-

ond e-bike sold in Europe has components made by hGears”, Tonin emphasises.

It is a statement that does not come out of nowhere. Originally coming from the automotive sector, the e-bike business has become an important pillar for hGears over the years – in different areas. hGears’ business model covers a broad spectrum, from supplying R&D capabilities to managing whole projects. This makes the company an exciting partner for the many companies in the bicycle industry that need support with their e-bike projects.

Upscaling

“The ability to scale up faster than the market rate of growth is critical for success. E-bike manufacturers come to us because they know that we have the industrial experience, the engineering know-how and the financial resources to scale up their business in this more than ever demanding market environment”, Tonin explains. “We are capable of supporting the needs of manufacturers, starting from the supply of single mechanical components up to the management of the entire supply chain. All with automotive standards”, he adds.

hGears has particular expertise when it comes to the drive unit – a statement that is also derived from the current company claim ‘The heart of e-drives’. “A motor for an e-bike is by

far more sophisticated than any other traditional bicycle component. From an engineering perspective, we help our customers optimise their e-drive design to get the best in terms of performance, sound and reliability, starting with the motor housing design to profiling the gear teeth”, Tonin says.

Eurobike

At the upcoming Eurobike show in Frankfurt, hGears plans to showcase this know-how by exhibiting several of their customers’ drive units, assembled with hGears’ products, as well as components for e-bike and BEV appli-

cations. Moreover, the presence at the fair in Germany underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and its active role in shaping the future of the e-mobility landscape. The company’s representative, Guido Tonin, is clear about hGears’ vision: “We will continue to expand our investment in the e-mobility sector and ensure maintaining a leading position as an R&D and production partner to this young industry. Our capacity, coupled with our technical and financial resources, makes us able to undertake any new e-bike project.”

“Almost every second e-bike sold in Europe has components made by hGears”

For many years the bicycle industry in Lithuania was linked with Baltik Vairas only, but that has changed.

Photos: Bike Europe

“To reach our goals in cycling policies, we are taking best practices from other EU countries combined with local requirements,” Agne Vaiciukeviciute, Lithuania’s vice-minister of Transport and Communication, told Bike Europe.

changed drastically. Both countries feel the same sense of urgency when it comes to being a small state with a big neighbouring country.

For Taiwan, the new political situation was the main reason for opening a Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania and on various occasions, politicians from both countries expressed their shared values. It makes Lithuania very receptive to any request from Taiwan. “The government knows what they want, and they act,” said Waylen Yeh. “In 2017, they wanted to incubate Fintech and were keen to help, for example, with all kinds of regulations. It is one of the reasons why Lithuania is easily accessible: both Lithuanian and English are legal languages which is convenient when doing

business as a foreigner. Also, the level of English literacy is high compared with other countries in the region. Finally, as part of the European Union, there are no barriers to Europe’s main economies for foreign direct investors in Lithuania. I regard it as a good gateway to Europe,” concludes Waylon Yeh.

Today, Lithuania is one of the biggest receivers of foreign direct investment, particularly in the Fintech business. To promote these investments, the national government has implemented a full package of legal incentives, including a 10-year 0% rate on corporate profit tax and 20 years of 0% tax on dividends and real estate. The country also operates seven Free Economic Zones (FEZ) with additional incentives

for foreign direct investment, like real estate and access to additional funding for R&D. Pon selected one of the FEZs as their new production location.

Local bicycle market

The market penetration of bicycles in the country is rather low. From a total population of 2.9 million people, a total of 113,000 bicycles and e-bikes were sold in 2021. According to CONEBI statistics, a mechanical bicycle retailed for €200, on average, and an e-bike for €1,650. But in Lithuania, the market situation is also changing; at least, the government is changing its cycling policy. “From a cycling point of view, there is a lot

to do. To start, we have first analysed what we have on cycling infrastructure and other cycling promotion activities,” said Agne Vaiciukeviciute, Lithuania’s vice-minister of Transport and Communication to Bike Europe. “We need to invest in infrastructure, but also in a change in habits. To reach our goals, we are taking best practices from other EU countries combined with local requirements. Of course, the municipalities are in the lead when it comes to building infrastructure, but as a national government, we want to allocate resources to make a more cyclingfriendly policy possible. The city of Vilnius is doing well, with an ambitious plan to develop hundreds of kilometres of cycling ways.”

Enduo by New Motion Labs: E-mobility with cutting-edge drivetrain technology

Re-engineering the drivetrain

New Motion Labs is on a mission to solve fundamental engineering problems. With a team of talented engineers and designers, they focus on creating disruptive technologies and solutions that deliver a competitive edge and game-changing commercial opportunities. The flagship product, Enduo, reimagines the traditional drivetrain, transforming the performance cycling, e-bike and cargo bike sectors.

Enduo is a tried, tested, and patented technology that has re-engineered the drivetrain for the first time in over 100 years, achieving a significant breakthrough in mechanical power transfer. The secret lies in New Motion Labs’ innovative sprocket tooth profile, which promises reliability, efficiency, and a remarkable lifetime performance that is 3.5 times longer than conventional drivetrains. The cargo and e-bike sectors have recognized the potential of Enduo, embracing the technology to increase the lifetime of their drivetrains and enable their bikes to travel further, be more reliable and durable and cope better with the more powerful motors. Leading cargo and e-bike OEMs, fleet providers, bike wholesalers,

and component resellers are rapidly adopting this innovative technology.

Enhanced durability and reliability

Enduo Cargo, for instance, delivers enhanced durability and reliability, resulting in a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for every bike. Moreover, its recyclable stainless-steel components replace the current plastic and rubber belts and as all parts are manufactured in Europe they ensure sustainability, shorter lead times without compromising performance. The Enduo technology has been trialled and testing on wear rigs at the University of Stuttgart and independent testing with partners including chain manufacturer IWIS and Enviolo.

For the performance cycling, Enduo Track offers cyclists a significant advantage in power, speed and efficiency gains. Enduo Track boasts savings of up to 50% on drivetrain losses, as proven through extensive testing for drivetrain efficiency on their custom-built chain dynamometer.

Impressive results

The verified performance numbers of Enduo are impressive. Users of Enduo Cargo can travel up to 30,000 km, three and a half times further than with conventional drivetrains, without the need to replace a single chain. Real-world testing conducted by organizations like Absolutely

Couriers (DPD) has demonstrated remarkable endurance. It has reached the 15,000 km mark with no maintenance or replacement after 15 months and the test is still running. Additionally, Enduo Cargo enables the delivery of 300% more packages compared to conventional drives and effortlessly handles extreme loads.

Awards

The excellence of Enduo has not gone unnoticed. It has received prestigious awards such as the Red Dot Design Award 2023 and Fiets Innovatie 2023. “The fact that you emerged victorious from such a strong group of participants is testimony to the extraordinary quality of your product – a wonderful achievement!”, said Professor Dr. Peter Zec Founder

and CEO of Red Dot, on Enduo Cargo winning Red Dot Award: Product Design 2023.

Tom Scruby, National Operations Manager at Zedify - the UK’s largest cargo eBike fleet operator, expressed his satisfaction with the results of extensive live tests of Enduo Cargo on the Zedify Urban Arrow fleet: “Our fleet is made up of 95% cargo bikes and we rely on them running at their best to keep parcels arriving efficiently and on time. Enduo Cargo helps reduce our maintenance needs and increase our mileage per charge, because efficiency in the drive chain can have a huge impact on energy use.” he said.

Cycling is not common in Lithuania, but the government is taking all kinds of actions like this bicycle counter on the streets of the capital Vilnius..

Lithuanian factory transformed into a highly efficient assembly partner

Baltik Vairas to focus on OEM production

SIAULIAI, Lithuania – Baltik Vairas has been the single outpost of the bicycle industry in Lithuania and the other Baltic states for many years. Thanks to the modernisation of the company in the past decade, it has now made the country one of the potential hotspots for the e-bike industry.

Jan-Willemvan Schaik

The modernisation of the bicycle factory Baltik Vairas, which started in 2013, is an ongoing process. In 2019, Baltik Vairas was taken over by Luxemburg-based KJK Management, which is also a former 60% owner of the Bulgarian bicycle manufacturer Leader 96. In the past decade, Baltik Vairas transformed from a low-cost supplier to a premium sourcing partner of Pon. “In 2018, we implemented a new sales strategy of no compromises and improving product quality,” says Baltik Vairas sales manager, Iain Mackay. “We gave up all our supermarket business and put our focus on IBD sales. In 2022 we made the subsequent step forward and developed a new strategy aiming to offer more added value. An essential element in this strategy is investing in human resources. We are not only putting a lot of effort in hiring

FOREVER CLASSICAL

people, but it is more important to keep them.”

The impact of this strategy worked out very well for the company as Baltik Vairas made 350,000 units in 2021 and 2022, with the turnover increasing from €135 million in 2021 to €170 million one year later. In 2022, only 35% of the output was e-bikes. Iain Mackay confirms this is not in line with the market share of this product category in the company’s main markets, Germany and the Netherlands. “Our customers assemble the majority of their e-bikes in their own facilities while ordering the regular bicycles at OEMs. That’s why we do not forget about regular bicycles, as this category is still an important part of the market.”

Scalable cargobike line

With the rapidly expanding cargobike market, Baltik Vairas decided to develop its own dedicated production line. Cargobike assembly comes with its own challenges due to the size and weight of the product. In close cooperation with IJssel Production Technology, the Lithuanian company developed this specific assembly line. As the cable assembly doesn’t fit in the takt time system like the rest of the workstations, the production is cut into two parts. “This 2-stage assembly makes the whole work process scalable, which was very important for us. The Urban Arrows cargobikes on the line are made in a separate front and rear section, while the final assembly is done in the Netherlands. In-

With the rapidly expanding

stead of a full assembly in Lithuania, this system allows us to ship three times more cargobikes in a container.”

The new market approach and the scalable cargobike line are part of Baltik Vairas’ rebranding strategy. “As a 100% OEM, we can fully focus on production for our customers, and this will never interfere with our own brands. To offer the most efficiency, we ask our cus-

tomers to work with our production procedures. We want to use our resources in the supply chain and not those of our customers. This means we have an open dialogue with them and share the BOM. This brings mutual trust, and the customer knows what and when to expect while we can run the factory as efficiently as possible. That’s for the benefit of all parties concerned.”

cargobike market, Baltik Vairas decided to develop its own dedicated production line.

Photo: Bike Europe

EBFEC is an emerging enterprise specializing in the research and development, design, manufacturing, sales and after-sales service of complete lithium battery electric bicycles. It has fully realized the local manufacturing in Poland.

but a brand new day

Hall 12.0 – Stand A08

Wednesday 21st - German presentation

Thursday 22nd - English presentation

Friday 23rd - German presentation

Eurobike exhibitor count reaching 2,000

Exponential growth while market lingers

FRANKFURT, Germany – In one of its latest announcements, Eurobike reports an exhibitor count of more than 1,900, setting an all-time high. This exponential growth reflects the prospering e-bike market, but it also raises questions. How will the market handle the massive overstock?

Jan-Willem van Schaik

The decision to move Eurobike from its long-time base Friedrichshafen to the business-style location in Frankfurt was driven by the potential to expand the event. Friedrichshafen had reached its maximum capacity with 1,400 exhibitors at the last precorona edition in 2019. When the event opened its doors in 2022 in Frankfurt for the first time, show organizer, fairnamic, reported 1,500 exhibitors. This number has now increased

to more than 1,900, which is a 36% expansion since pre-corona.

For sure, the e-bike market potential in Europe is obvious, certainly when looking at the long term. The outlook for the North American market is undoubtedly less positive, if not dramatic, but sales in Europe this spring are also not as many were hoped for. These challenges in both North America and Europe will have an impact on the market and, with that, business at Eurobike. Although the event predominantly developed into an industry presentation over the years, it is still the primary indicator for market developments. The leading question in Frankfurt will be how the industry will be able to align market demand and existing overstock.

To create space for the growing number of exhibitors and to facilitate the strict B2B companies, this year’s Eurobike will include a completely new hall level 9.2 where the supplier area will find its place. This area will only be used on the first three days of the trade fair (21-23 June) and is specifically reserved for suppliers and component manufacturers. This has

been done to improve the B2B exchange separately from the rest of the trade fair programme.

Eurobike opens with conference

To give more weight to its Bike Biz Revolution conference, Eurobike will organise this event on the day ahead of the opening of the show. In its fifth edition, entertaining keynotes at the ‘Conference for Visionaries’ will focus on two subject areas: forecasting and future technologies.

The Bike Biz Revolution is scheduled for Tuesday, 20 June, from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Six speakers will be on stage at the Eurobike Hub in the ‘Portalhaus’ for 30/45-minute presentations on trends and challenges for the bicycle and light electric mobility industry.

“The Eurobike lecture stands for knowledge transfer, high-profile networking, orientation, and levelling for the upcoming days. As a kickoff, the Bike Biz Revolution will get visitors in the mood for the event, with a top line-up of speakers and relevant topics. We are looking forward to concentrated bicycle and future mobility expertise on and in front of the stage,” says fairnamic managing director, Stefan Reisinger. The keynote speakers of the Bike Biz Revolution are not only from the bicycle and future mobility universe. The content-related priorities of their lectures are decisive for the future; they may also be painful or controversial.

Dr Stefan Carsten will represent the content-related focus of the forecasting. He is a researcher at the Zukunftsinstitut Berlin and aligns the bicycle in the megatrend of the mobility transition and the associated visions of robotaxis, vehicle-to-grid communication and the like. Theresa Schöne and Robert Genrich from the strategy and marketing consultancy HPP will analyse the influence of shared mobility offers on mobility behaviour and provide guidance for the bicycle trade. In his keynote, Stefan Schilbe, chief economist at the HSBC bank, will explore the question of what the central banks’ fight against inflation has in common with the Tour de France.

Gert Hendricks, global sales director, manufacturing, at Materialise, will use practical examples to show how additive manufacturing with 3D printing can help in development and production. Two speakers are dedicated to the topic of artificial intelligence: Adrian Wenzel from Kochstrasse Agentur für Marken and Hamburgbased IT specialist Jens Dorn.

The leading question in Frankfurt will be how the industry will be able to align market demand and existing overstock.

Photo: Bike Europe

The layout of Eurobike 2023.

Photo: Eurobike

The 31st Eurobike will be open from Wednesday 21 June to Sunday 25 June 2023 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Festival Days: Saturday and Sunday.

Herrmans reaches new sustainability milestone with bio-based grips Canyon collaborates with IperionX on prototype titanium bike parts

Noticing a clear market demand for bio-based products, Finnish component manufacturer, Herrmans Bike Components, has designed a new 2K lockable bicycle grip range using bio-based materials. The Nucore range, which will make its debut at Eurobike, is a new product family which will be available in Q4 of 2023 for OEMs.

Consisting of two main parts, the inner core, which is made of bio composite using plant fibres and recycled polypropylene, gives the Nucore (‘new core’) grip family its name. The outer layer consists of a hybrid material, bio-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), made from renewable resources such as plant and vegetable crops with regular TPE. The grip family consists of three types to suit every ride: Trail, Tour, and Town. The

bio-based grips come in two patterns – Wave and Peak – and besides the traditional black colour, all options are available in a range of vivid and pastel colours.

“The bio-based materials we use have been responsibly grown,” explains Magnus Nilsson, grips product manager. “This means renewable vegetable crops, which are intended for industrial use only. Additionally, these have been grown on land not fit for food production.”

In addition to the grips, Herrmans have developed the end plug from bio-based TPE. “We see the need to seek more sustainable alternatives while still maintaining the quality, ergonomics, and durability of standard plastics. And this is, of course, is not easy – it involves a lot of testing of different combinations of bio-based raw materials,” confirms Nilsson.

To develop a more sustainable titanium supply chain through the production of bicycle components, Canyon Bicycles is collaborating with a US-based developer of 100% recycled and low-carbon titanium. IperionX has agreed upon an initial project to prototype Canyon bicycle parts, including for bicycle frames, via additive manufacturing methods.

The potential to develop bicycle components utilising IperionX’s 100% recycled titanium is aligned with Canyon’s ambitions to drive the use of innovative material in the production process and to match that with its environmental goals. IperionX is working closely with Canyon’s product development and ESG teams to produce bicycle components using IperionX’s low-carbon, recycled titanium metal powders via additive manufacturing methods. “This is a

real breakthrough technology for us, and we look forward to deploying this innovative technology in the production of more sustainable titanium for use in Canyon bicycles,” said Alison Jones, Canyon’s chief operating officer. Titanium as a frame material has a premium position for consumers, being both very strong and lightweight (around half the weight of steel), as well as being extremely corrosion resistant, removing the requirement for paint as a corrosion inhibitor. However, until now, its utilisation in bike components has been limited by its high cost compared to materials such as carbon frames, as well as the high carbon footprint of the current titanium supply chain. The partnership between IperionX and Canyon represents another milestone in the rapidly growingand sustainability-focused global bicycle market.

Investor needed to support market launch of fully-engineered and mass market-ready product

Mavic adds e-bike mid-motor to portfolio

ANNECY, France – In line with its product portfolio, Mavic has developed a mid-motor targeted at the road bike market. According to the company, the product is fully engineered and ready for mass production. However, the French family company lacks the resources to take the product to market

Jan - W illem van S c haik

The project started already before Mavic’s t ake-over by the Bourrelier Group in 2 020. The new owner immediatel y reco g nise d t h e potentia l o f t h is new pro d uct d eve l opment, an d t h e y d eci d e d to continue the project until a ‘ready-to-market’ product. That’s not ver y surprising, knowing that the Bourrelier Group was already operating a chain of e-bike stores in Paris

According to Mavic, the development of the e-bike drive already required an investment of €10 million. “Our annual turnover is approximatel y € 5 0 million,” sa y s Jean Michel Bourrelier, who is co-CEO of Mavic, together with his brother, Yoann. “ The e-bike is a completely new business for us, and the market is dominated by big companies like Bosch and Shimano who offer a full package. We are convinced that we have a great product, but we need a partner with competencies in the mechatronic industries or an investment party who can take us there. It doesn’t explicitly have to be somebody from within the e-bike industr y.” Jean Michel points out that Mavic is ready to take the full system to the market: “As soon as we have found a partner, we can start tomor-

row. ” However, it will still take until 2025 or 2026 before the product will be available for the OEM market. He also underlines that he is not open to a take-over of the product by a third party: “We will not sell the concept. Our core business is hard and soft goods; that’s what we are good at. Our aim is to build up this competence in the e-bike market as well. However, we have seen too many new products come and go. That’s why we have decided to take a different route.”

One of the topics Mavic still needs to address for the market introduction is the build-up and training of a service network. The company’s current network is focused on hard and soft goods, but servicing an e-bike drive requires different competencies, like training on how to use the diagnostic tool.

Production in Europe

In a p revious Bike Euro p e interview, Jean Mi c h e l out lin ed t h e f ocus o n wh ee l s a n d rims for Mavic. “ That core business is still the same,” he said two years later. “ The new e-bike motor shows our R&D capabilities and our i nnovation strengt h to d eve l op an a ll -new p roduct and launch a finished protot y pe.

“As

aluminium rims ( since 1934 ) and carbon wheels. Today, 80% of the business is exported

The e-bike drive was desig ned to e y e the previously launched systems for road bikes. These did not accelerate in sales as in all other bic ycle categories.

The presentation to the market now is also a showcase and proves that Mavic can diversify without losing its focus.”

Production in Europe is another ke y element in the company’s strategy. For Mavic’s new and e xistin g product portfolio, the compan y is relocating existing facilities and opening new production in France and Europe as much as possible.”

Game-changer for the road bike market?

Diversifying into e-bike drive systems is not so strange, looking at Mavic’s long history during which the company made all kinds of bic ycle components, including group sets, e-shifting,

“We identified a number of reasons why road bike riders did not embrace the e-drive like MTB-ers did 10 years ago,” says Maxime B runan d , h ea d o f pro d uct manag ement at Mavic. “Most e-drives took the wei g ht o f the bikes to 12 or even 18 kg, and that changed t he bike d y namics and handlin g . We also i d enti f ie d d iminis h e d ri d in g qua l it y an d e ff icienc y d ue to h igh er ro ll ing resistance, especially when the motor is off. These systems u sua ll y came wit h a compromise d f rame p er f ormance an d , f ina lly , it o ff ere d on ly a limited ran g e of use. We have tackled all these issues.” Although launched as a road bike drive system, the X-Tend is also suitable for other categories

System specifications

Specifying the Mavic X-Tend drive train, the road bike’s weight can remain under 10 kg as t he BMC-develo p ed test bike p roved. The system, in total, weighs 3.2 kg, including the BB bearings and integrated power metre. This power metre is integrated into the drive unit

The system, in total, weighs 3 2 kg, including the BB bearings and integrated power metre.

and gives better responses than the standard sensors. The drive unit is made u p of a 4,500-rpm high-speed custom brushless motor, a patented c ycloidal reducer and a frictionless clutch mechanism

Mavic c l aims t hat t h e h ig h e ff iciency an d low waste of watts and energy make it possible to get to a range of up to 3,000 metres elevation g ain with the 360 Wh inte g rated batter y Specifying the X-Tend requires only a limited change of existing frame designs. All that is needed is an oversized bottom bracket design, as t h e motor c yl in d er measures 87 mm. This non-disruptive frame design also makes the system ver y suitable for MTB. Also, the Q of 146 millimetres is in line with regular sizes. Mavic’s long-time experience with lightweight rim production made it possible to limit the weight of the batter y casing

soon as we have found a partner, we can start tomorrow,” says Mavic co-CEO, Jean-Michel Bourrelier.

Photos: Bike Europe/Mavic

An extensive test programme preceded the launch of the X-Tend in the company’s in-house test lab in Annecy, France.

The remarkably small size of the Mavic X-Tend allows for a non-disruptive frame design.

Hyena introduces lightweight drive system weighing 3.2kg Yamaha takes concept e-bike and speed pedelec to market

E-bike system manufacturer, Hyena, has released their lightest drive system, the E-Road Air. Weighing only 3.2kg, the smart hub drive system unit designed for lightweight performance bikes was showcased at Taipei Cycle 2023. At the 2023 Taipei Cycle Show, Hyena also showcased a prototype e-road bike with this system installed, the entire bike weighing around 10kg. “Although the manufacturer of this prototype is yet to be determined, we expect to be able to experience and test a similar bike with this new system on the market soon,” confirmed marketing manager, Shawn Lin. The motor of E-Road Air weighs less than 1.4kg,

with an outer diameter of 112mm, meaning it can be hidden behind any cassettes. It provides 30Nm torque on the hub axle. The freehub body follows the Shimano HG 11 standard and is compatible with up to a 12-speed cassette. The new system can work with selected thirdparty electronic gear-shifting, allowing users to manage these systems through Hyena’s applications. This third-party bicycle electronics cooperation platform is called HyenaSync. The company plans to integrate more smart parts that can be directly powered by Hyena drive systems and operated through its software in the near future.

Following Yamaha’s recent introduction of the Moro 07, Wabash and Crosscore e-bikes, the company is now taking their Booster concept models to the market. The all-new Booster Easy e-bike and Booster speed-pedelec will be available this spring.

The new Booster Easy e-bike and Booster speed-pedelec have been developed in Europe and are aimed to meet the demand for a clean, quiet and accessible means of urban transport.

Both models come with the well-known Yamaha drive unit and feature a rugged and timeless chassis design. Both the Booster Easy and Booster look virtually identical and are techni-

cally very similar, sharing the same lightweight chassis design. The difference is in their performance. The Booster Easy has a maximum pedal-assisted speed of 25km/h, while the Booster is a speed-pedelec or electric moped that can power to a maximum pedal-assisted speed of 45km/h.

The Boosters are equipped with the very latest Yamaha PWseries S2 motor weighing just 2.85kg while producing 75Nm as well as a 630Wh 36V battery. The Yamaha Display C user interface features a large 2.8-inch full-colour dot matrix TFT display and a separate control switch.

Taya debuts Zenas cargobike brand

At Taipei Cycle Show, bicycle chain specialist Taya China Co. Ltd. debuted a new bicycle chain brand, Zenas. With Zenas, the Taiwanese company is focusing on the fast-growing e-cargobike and delivery service market. “We want to clearly differentiate this heavy weight sector from our Taya brand,” a spokesperson told Bike Europe. The chain presented by Taya was still a prototype. By Eurobike, the company will be ready with the appropriate packaging design, etc. The crank belonging to the Zenas chain is supplied by cooperation partner Sonax. The crank and chain are offered as a set. (JB)

Acer subsidiary MPS Energy launches next-generation AI-powered drive system at Taipei Cycle Show

Acer subsidiary MPS Energy Inc. drew attention with the launch of a next generation drive system at Taipei Cycle Show this year.

MPS Energy was established by Acer in July 2015 as part of its foray into the vehicle electricity and mobile power field and has dedicated its resources to the development of BMS for smart cars with a focus on green and connected car technology.

Initially, MPS focused on the development of the battery, its holder and the PCB design, while another department at Acer developed the controllers. These two business units with-

Phylion shows first-generation weather resistant sodium-ion battery cells

At this year’s Taipei Cycle Show, Chinese battery manufacturer, Phylion, took the opportunity to show the first generation of its weatherresistant sodium-ion battery cell. The manufacturer predicts this could bring in a new era for e-bike batteries. With more than 18 million battery packs sold, Phylion has been a top manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries in recent years. Now the company is releasing its first generation of sodium-ion battery cells. The product has a weather-resistant design, enhanced reliability to extend the bike endurance, and is competitive in price at the same time.

“We have confidence that this new-generation battery will open a new era of e-bike power solutions,” the company said in a statement. Also on display at Taipei Cycle Show was the Phylion Golden Brick Version Battery Cellfor new energy vehicles (NEV) within 400 KM range.

in Acer merged to work together on one integrated system. Their mission was to design, customise and integrate the various components that come with e-bike drive systems. Except for the motor and controllers, everything is now made by MPS. “Our core business is to work with open systems in the market,” explains Eladio Lin of MPS. “With our step towards an AI-powered drive system, we deliver on our commitment to sustainability via technology and creative design, further driven by the desire to enhance the user’s mobility and experiences.”

Tektro steps up relevance with new high-end drive train

Product availability gave Tektro TRP a huge hike in demand during the pandemic. The growing significance and quality made Tektro TRP an important partner for the ABS system of Bosch. At Taipei Cycle Show, the Taiwanese component manufacturer also presented its secondgeneration high-end group set. With the 10-11 speed TRP EVO group set Tektro aims to become “the third supplier for OEMs who are sourcing for high-end drive-train components.”

Except for the chain, which is supplied by KMC, 90% of all EVO components are made by Tektro in their new factory in Taichung.

The Tektro TRP EVO group set will be available from mid-April. The first e-bikes with Bosch eBike ABS and brake components from Tektro TRP are expected to be available from Q3 2023.

SHOW REVIEW CFOSE

Ludhiana show lacks the support of local bicycle manufacturers

India’s show marred by exhibitor grievances

LUDHIANA, India – The 2023 edition of India’s largest bicycle show Cycle, Fitness & Outdoor Sports Expo (CFOSE), held in February, proved to be a difficult one. Support from domestic bicycle OEMs was largely absent, and international exhibitors, particularly from China, continued to stay away. Also, a strategic international partnership has now been called off.

Satnam Singh

The 3-day exhibition was held in Ludhiana, India, from 3-5 February. The show peaked in its last pre-covid appearance when it grew to cover three halls and was triple the size of this 2023 edition.

Major manufacturers undercut The CFOSE appears to be at a crossroads. Major Indian bicycle manufacturers believe the show promotes the middle or small bicycle makers who used to be their vendors a few years ago. They claim these smaller companies are copying their ranges displayed during the show and selling them far below their own price.

These emerging companies are now promoting their own brands in a highly competitive price bracket, forcing major OEM dealers to compete against this new breed of bicycle manufacturers during the show.

Major bicycle producers stayed away from the show as the apex body AICMA (All India Cycle Manufacturers Association), which represents OEMs, says it has valid reasons for not exhibiting at CFOSE. “Intellectual Property Rights is among the major issues as we invest into designing, but when we launch a model at the show, it is copied and sold at very competitive prices,” complained K B Thakur, secretary general, AICMA. The association also thinks the show is focused on B2B, whereas it is looking for a B2C type platform. Moreover, a cost-benefit analysis association didn’t find it value-formoney by exhibiting at the show. Therefore, the association decided not to participate in the show, but companies were allowed to participate on an individual level.

A new vision for AICMA

AICMA says that it is instead working on a larger vision. This includes engaging with the government to extend the Production Linked Incentive scheme to the bicycle industry, stimulate the setting up of a world-class R&D centre, and create bicycle infrastructure, etc. Chinese companies stayed away from the show

due to continued lockdowns and a possible fallout of simmering border tensions between both countries. In general, there has been a slowdown in Chinese participation at Indian tradeshows across various industrial sectors.

“Despite all the challenges, CFOSE welcomed

8,500 trade visitors and dealers from across the country and generated business enquiries of over INR5 billion [€55.7 million],” revealed Surinder Brar, managing director, Annex Media Marketing Network Pvt Ltd, organiser of CFOSE.

The Indian market has been maturing towards high-end brands, meaning that manufacturers like Scott were present at CFOSE in 2023, showing off their newest models.

Photo: Satnam Singh

SHOW REVIEW CFOSE

NürnbergMesse India splits with CFOSE

The tradeshow organisers have been busy focusing on foreign participation to bring more international visitors to CFOSE. This culminated in the announcement of a strategic relationship with NürnbergMesse India in April 2022. But synergies among both partners had not worked as expected, and the relationship was called off at the end of 2022. Sonia Prashar, managing director, NürnbergMesse India, confirmed the parting of ways and said, “NürnbergMesse India agreed mutually to not cooperate with Annex Media for CFOSE due to different strategic priorities for the 2023 event in Ludhiana, so there was no international alliance.”

Organisers Annex Media didn’t stand still after the closure of the partnership, with a new strategic venture formed with Messe Frankfurt in the weeks following the 2023 event.

Holland Mechanics rolls out Mini Factory Dutch firm Holland Mechanics is now targeting Indian bicycle companies expanding on the e-bike segment. Having grown 5-fold over the last two years, the company introduced its Mini Factory Concept under the theme ‘Build Better Bikes’ at CFOSE. “The Mini Factory Concept helps customers build a state-of-the-art factory to achieve lean production flow at each and every step of bicycle and e-bike assembly,” Puneet Madhav, sales director, South Asia and Southeast Asia, Holland Mechanics. The single-stop solution takes care not only of the final production flow but also assures optimum utilisation of all pre-assembly stations.

In 2021, Holland Mechanics introduced its Airline concept in India based on the strong

demand for such solutions from the industry.

“Earlier, the focus was on wheel building, followed by assembly solutions, whereas now the emphasis is on using all solutions collectively in a synchronised manner,” Madhav explains. The company also offers consultancy on designing a whole factory to improve quality, efficiency, tech-time, automation and reduce labour. The India operation has also been further upgraded to include the additional responsibility of the Vietnam and Cambodian markets along with India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesia.

Scott Bikes expanding presence in India

Swiss bicycle brand, Scott Bikes, showcased its range – from budget to high-end – at the show.

Scott Bikes is selling its range under the Scott, Bergamont and Avanti brands. It also markets accessories under the Syncros and Probike brands in the market in India. “We have around 180 dealers spread all over the country. The idea is to further expand our footprint by exhibiting at the show,” said Hrishikesh Lad, event, branding and retail manager, Scott Bikes. “We have received quite a good response from the dealers visiting the show.”

The Indian market has been maturing towards high-end brands for quite some time, and foreign brands continue to expand their footprints. Despite offering a high-priced range, Scott confirmed that sales volumes are good but declined to give further details. The company sells its flagship Scott range from €455 to more than €11,400. It provides the expensive carbon range on pre-orders only. Bergamont is in the middle range, starting from €455 to up to about €4,560. The company’s bike models, with a price tag ranging from €400 to €627, are

Ride ahead –together

Eurobike

host Messe Frankfurt forges an alliance with CFOSE

After the 2023 edition of the Ludhiana Bicycle Show, its organiser, Annex Media, announced that they had entered into a strategic venture with the German exhibition company Messe Frankfurt. Looking at the 2023 edition, it is no surprise that CFOSE reached out for a partner to refine and create it as a professional show of global stature. Messe Frankfurt will provide management consultancy to the Indian bicycle show beginning with the 2024 edition. The German company would likely take the show to other Indian cities also. “As part of the partnership between Messe Frankfurt and Friedrichshafen, we enter close cooperation at various points and create new synergies,” says fairnam-

the most popular. “We launched a new range under the brand Avanti about two years ago in a competitive price bracket.”

Bicycle OEMs expand into e-scooters

Indian bicycle OEMs are expanding into the electric 2-wheeler segment as the e-bike segment is not gaining ground very quickly.

The Indian EV industry made a huge leap in terms of volumes, with a total of 995,319 EVs across vehicle segments sold in 2022, up 208% year-on-year (322,871 units in 2021), according to the government vehicle registration portal VAHAN.

ic GmbH CEO, Stefan Reisinger. “Eurobike’s internationalisation strategy also includes the support of the global network of our fairnamic joint venture partner Messe Frankfurt. India is also a market of the future for the bike and mobility industry, which will find a stronger reflection at the leading trade fair in Frankfurt in the future.”

But it is interesting to see how the relationship between both the partners develops as the Indian company has been scouting for a suitable partner that will provide it much-needed global exposure for quite some time. Messe Frankfurt is also showing interest in developing some kind of synergy with Eurobike in future.

Sales of electric 2-wheelers reached 615,000 units, Ola Electric tops with 108,000 units, while Hero Electric sold about 97,000 units in third place. Considering 2013, when merely 1,989 electric 2-wheelers were sold, sales in 2022 are a major leap. Interestingly, Hero Electric announced an investment of INR12 billion (€133.7 million) in a new greenfield e-scooter facility, while Tube Investments

India is also investing in commercial electric mobility. Major auto 2-wheeler OEMs like Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS have also announced big-ticket entries into the electric 2-wheeler space.

Questions arise about repairable e-bike batteries as revised legislation nears completion

Is single cell replacement the future?

PARIS, France – Eco-designed battery manufacturer, Gouach, is warning of a ‘David vs Goliath’ battle in the quest to develop a repairable e-bike batter y. With new legislation supporting the replacement of individual battery cells, the French battery maker feels that CONEBI’s stance pushing back on repairable batteries is drowning out new initiatives like theirs. CONEBI comments on this.

The new EU Battery legislation, which awaits official approval, aims to make Europe a c hampion o f t h e sustainabl e b atter y supply chain. This aligns with the goals of French repairable batter y maker, Gouach, which last year raised €3.3 million in a new financing round to market its product to fleet op erators and manufacturers in the micromobility sector.

Gouach’s patented design of contact plates and cell holders completely bypasses the need for welding, and each cell goes through rigorous a nd advanced testing. The information obtained from the smart BMS (Battery Management System) provides valuable data on the state of the batter y cells, allowing for precise and reliable check-ups. The company says the batter y has proven to si g nificantl y reduce electronic waste and the carbon footprint of cl assica l b atteries by up to f our times. In addition, the battery is equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for remote diagnosis and troubleshooting. The Gouach design has passed all the necessary certifications to ensure the safety and performance of its batteries

Single cell replacement discussed

T he upcomin g EU batter y le g islation will require manufacturers to use more sustainable materials and encourage product designs that are easier to disassemble, reuse and rec ycle.

Article 11 of the legislation states that “from 42 months after entr y into force of the Regulation, any natural or legal person that places on the market products incorporating LMT batteries shall ensure that those batteries, as well as individual battery cells included in the batter y pack, are readily removable and replaceable

by an independent professional at any time during the lifetime of the product.”

“ Traditional industry players, represented by CONEBI, the European Confederation of the Bic ycle Industr y, have pushed back on this legislation,” says Gouach in a position paper.

“ They have cited concerns about safety and potential flaws regarding the possibility of cell removal. There is a growing demand for repairable batteries in the market, as well as a recognition from the market that this is desirable and doable today. It is crucial for polic ymakers and industr y players to reco g nise the need for re p aira bl e b atteries an d ce ll re pl acement in achieving sustainability goals and creating a circular and eco-friendly future,” Gouach adds.

Safety comes first for CONEBI

In response to Bike Europe, CONEBI strongly counters the Gouach statement. “Recent events have shown that safety must be our major concern. We do advocate for single cell replacement, but at this moment, it is not possible to reach the same safety level as with regular batteries,” states CONEBI general manager, Manuel Marsilio. “In the proposed Batter y Regulations, e-bike batteries are treated differently than car batteries when it comes to single cell replacement. The technology and cells used to build car batteries are similar to e-bike battery packs. For safety reasons, single-cell replacement in cars is not allowed. What makes the industr y think it is safe to do this for e-bike batteries?”

In their search for an answer to this question, CONEBI contacted the European Commissioner for the internal market Thierr y Breton and asked him about the reason for allowing single cell replacement for LMTs in the latest version of the EU Batter y Regulation while all other battery categories are excluded. “We see no reason why t h e automotive an d e- b i ke in d ustries should be handled differently when it comes to battery safety,” explains Marsilio. So far, CONEBI did not get an answer from the Commissioner on why he makes a distinction between cars and e-bikes. “In the run-up to this new batter y regulation, we have met with many stakeholders in this market, including Gouach,” says Marsilio. “ The new regulation should keep the door open for future developments, also when it comes to cell replacement. The regulation must be as broad as possible, but let’s not focus on single-cell replacement only. For us, the leading priority is safety.”

Gouach says the battery has proven to significantly reduce electronic waste and the carbon footprint of classical batteries by up to four times.

Ton

Anbeek

steps

down as Accell Group CEO

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands –After almost six years in the lead at bicycle manufacturer Accell Group, Ton Anbeek has stepped down as CEO.

The departure of Anbeek comes almost eight months after the takeover by the investment companies KKR and Teslin, which paid €1.56 billion for the bicycle manufacturer. Anbeek was appointed CEO of Accell Group in November 2017 as the successor of René Takens, who had been at the company for 18 years. It wasn’t an easy start for Anbeek. The company’s results were under pressure. Anbeek managed to im-

Funding a focus of US bike conference

prove Accell’s results with a new strategy. While a successor is being found, Juan de Ochoa, a partner at investment firm and co-owner of KKR, the new owner of Accell Group, will step in as interim chairman of the board of directors.

Thun hires Simon C. Smith

ENNEPETAL, Germany – Simon C. Smith joined Alfred Thun GmbH in the field of international sales and business development. He will focus on international sales of existing and new drivetrain components.

“We are glad that Simon has chosen Thun and are happy that he will bring his many talents and skills shaped by decades of experience in the bicycle industry to support our national and international sales efforts,” comments Alexander Thun, co-CEO of Thun. Smith has been in the cy-

DANA POINT, US – The Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) stands as the foremost bicycle industry event gathering in the US for leaders to learn, network, and grow cycling and the bike business. Held in March, the 2023 edition was a positive event attended by some 270 industry leaders. Funding to support the growth of the industry and the impact of e-bikes were the main discussion points.

While in the US, sales in 2022 were down 10% versus 2021, they still came in at US$7.4 billion (€6.8 billion), which was approximately 30% higher than the level achieved in sales back in 2019. At the annual conference, which kicked off on 14 March, Jenn Dice, CEO and president of People for Bikes, stated that her mission is to leverage US$13 billion (€12 billion) in federal funding to support growth and the development of the bike industry in the USA over the next five years. Her team has benchmarked the attributes of leading cities such as Amsterdam and Utrecht to set the standard for US cities to aim to match as they build out their cycling infrastructures.

International Shows

June

21-25Eurobike

Frankfurt am Main, Germany

July

2-4Prodays

Paris, France

August

24-27MADE

Portland, USA

September 5-10 IAA Mobility

Munich, Germany

15-17 Italian Bike Festival Misano, Italy

16-18 Velovak

Gorinchem, the Netherlands

22-24 Sea Otter Europe

Girona, Spain

30-01 Velodays

Vejle, Denmark

October

1-6 Intermot

cling industry for many years and previously worked at Accell Group, Qwic and Tridata.

The 3-day event was packed full of sessions addressing safety, e-bike regulations, mergers and acquisitions, digital marketing trends, and an inspiring address from Bonnie Tu, chairperson of the Giant Group, on the need to address women’s needs to grow the global cycling market. In addition, John Burke, CEO of Trek Bicycles, spoke on the impact of cycling on the health of the nation. “I continue to be really bullish on the bicycle industry,” he said. He went on to note that America’s greatest challenge is overcoming the 42% adult obesity rates, which cycling, and particularly commuting by bike, can help to overcome.

Cologne, Germany

3-6 Taichung Bike Week

Taichung, Taiwan

4-8 Roc dÁzur

Frejus, France

11-13Ebike Future Conference

Online event

13-15Bespoked

Dresden, Germany

26-27World of eMobility

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

November 7-9 Battery Experts Forum

Darmstadt, Germany

Editors Rosie Burgin - rosieburgin@vmnmedia.nl

Hedwig Berendsen - Hooman - hedwigberendsen@vmnmedia.nl

Harrie Hoitink - harriehoitink@vmnmedia.nl

Sub-editor Natalie Kinsley

Correspondents

Czech Republic: Jakub Ditrich, Finland: Heikki Kuva, France: Michel de Chavanon, German-speaking countries: Jo Beckendorff, Italy German Eslava, Claudia Vianino, Poland Marek Utkin, Russia Andrei Khorkov, Slovenia, Baltic States: Grega Stopar, Southeast Asia Satnam Singh, Switzerland: Peter Hummel, Taiwan David Frazier, United Kingdom

Richard Peace, Electric vehicles: Susanne Brüsch

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Simon C. Smith joins Alfred Thun GmbH after many years in the bicycle industry. Photo: Thun

Ton Anbeek steered Accell Group in the role of CEO since 2017.

Photo: Accell Group

This year’s Bicycle Leadership Conference was attended by some 270 industry leaders. Photo: Scott Montgomery