Sanyo To Break Into European e-Bike Market

TOKYO, Japan – Last Friday Sanyo Electric Co. revealed plans for a full swing start in Europe in 2010 during a press conference held in Tokyo. The focus will be on components for e-Bikes but, the renowned electronics maker also presented some striking new electric bicycles during the press conference.

Here Takahiro Wada, vice president of Sanyo Electric, said: "With regard to global operations for electric bicycles, there is demand in Europe, but it will be difficult to market the complete bikes given the circumstances in each country," Wada said, referring to the existence of local manufacturers. "So we would like to break into their markets gradually," he said.

Sanyo Sales & Marketing GmbH based in Munich is at the upcoming Eurobike show. It is expected that the European HQ for the Japanese company will show the components for e-Bikes Sanyo manufactures at its stand EE-3. At the Tokyo conference it was said that Sanyo hopes to begin supplying to bicycle manufacturers in various countries the key parts needed for electric bicycles - hub motor, battery and control system - as a complete package from the fiscal year beginning next April.

At the Tokyo conference Sanyo presented two more Eneloop models after rolling out the first one last February. One of the two new models is the world's first electric power assist bicycle with a carbon composite frame which retails in Japan for about 4,500 euro. The other is a compact, folding bike to be sold at about 750 euro.