LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Several European countries have been implicated in a new investigation of customs fraud in connection with disassembled Chinese-made e-bikes. Led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Portugal, 16 searches were conducted yesterday in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal, in order to collect evidence in an investigation codenamed 'Pedelecs'.

FRANKFURT, Germany - As e-bike companies across Europe grapple with concerns over new European Union considerations to cap e-bike power at a maximum output of 750 watts, some are making their stances on the subject clear.

PARIS, France - After a sharp market contraction in 2023, 2024 did not fully reverse the trend. "The year 2024 has not been very easy," summarized Patrick Guinard, president of the Cycle Commission of the Union Sport & Cycle. According to the results of the 2024 French Cycle Observatory published by Union Sport & Cycle at the Vélo in Paris trade show, the French bicycle market generated €3.232 billion in turnover, a 5.9% decline compared to 2023. In volume, 1,956,700 bicycles were sold, representing a 12% drop year-on-year, for a turnover of €2.003 billion (-8.3%).

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Giant Group made a remarkably good start to the year with a year-on-year consolidated revenue increase of 4.9% to NT$16.85 billion (€496 million). According to the Giant Board of Directors, this growth can be attributed to a significant rebound in OEM orders.

WELS, Austria - For quite some time the sparrows have been whistling it from the rooftop: on April 29, Pierer Mobility AG confirmed it will withdraw completely from the bicycle and e-bike business in the current 2025 financial year. Pierer Mobility is seriously struggling with the insolvency of its motorcycle subsidiary KTM AG.

VIENNA, Austria - The first-quarter sales numbers for 2025 are in, and Austria's kids' bicycle supplier Woom GmbH has glimpsed a light at the end of the tunnel with its strongest numbers yet.

SAKAI CITY, Japan - Component manufacturer Shimano points to "signs of recovery starting to appear in sales of completed bicycle sales" as it releases its first quarter consolidated financial results for 2025. In a welcome sign for the industry, the company reports a 15.6% increase in bicycle component sales in Q1, compared to the sluggish start of the year in 2024.

Eurobike is attracting a broader spectrum of companies than ever before. As the show heads toward its 33rd edition, it's not just bicycle manufacturers and component specialists setting up in Frankfurt. Increasingly, innovators from adjacent and even unrelated sectors are joining the Eurobike stage—bringing with them new materials, production methods, and perspectives that are reshaping the future of cycling.

ZURICH, Switzerland - Following successful trials in Zurich, Atlanta and Seattle, Lime is readying its release of a new e-bike to European and North American city streets. The micromobility rideshare company has capitalised on the idea of grab-and-go transport for years with its fleet of e-scooters and e-bikes, and currently boasts a history of more than 750 million rides across hundreds of cities worldwide.

FRANKFURT, Germany - Recent statements from well-known exhibitors that they will skip Eurobike 2025 raised discussions on the position of the biggest show in the industry. "We attract more and more companies from other industries and newcomers to the exhibition grounds," confirms Eurobike show organiser Fairnamic in the run-up to the 33rd edition.

BAUNACH, Germany - Messingschlager GmbH & Co. KG has appointed Christoph Bantle and Toni Messingschlager to its executive management. This is part of the company's strategic realignment to place an even stronger focus on the needs of manufacturers and wholesalers in the bicycle industry.

VIENNA, Austria - After an impressive Covid-related sales boom and subsequent sales decline and overstock, Austria's bicycle market had already more or less returned to a 'high normal level' by 2023. Could this level be maintained in 2024? The answer to this question can be found in the latest data released by ARGE Fahrrad.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - After a turbulent 2024 marked by decreased production volumes and excess inventory, Taiwan's bicycle industry is showing early signs of recovery. While orders remain cautious, Q1 2025 export data suggests a gradual rebound is underway, especially in the e-bike sector.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -Recent figures from the Swedish industry association Cykelbranschen show that bicycle sales volumes have almost halved in the last 11 years, and the decline is ongoing. These market trends have been recently confirmed by some leading local bike retailers.

MILAN, Italy - After two years of double-digit declines, the Italian bicycle market seems to have stabilised. In 2024, over 1.3 million units were sold, marking a modest -0.7% decrease compared to the previous years. This positive signal comes from Italy's trade association, Confindustria ANCMA, which recently unveiled its market figures.

TOKYO, Japan - The bicycle industry in Japan is known to function in isolation, apart from global trends. Domestic sales are largely dominated by low-value, Chinese-made bicycles. But the market is waking up, seeing the benefits of cycling as a means of transport and the positive side effects on health. "The Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute (JBPI) developed various initiatives to open up the market and take it to the next level, including an annual show and market data gathering," said Professor Tetsuya Komagata, President of the Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute (JBPI), in an interview with Bike Europe. Komagata has extensively studied the history of the Japan-China bicycle industry and offered his insights.

NANTOU, Taiwan - As a company founded in 2020, Yota Cycles has witnessed both sides of the bicycle market pendulum. In the current downswing, the e-bike manufacturer looks positively toward the future.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Industry leaders dare to speak out on future developments more openly now the main hurdle of the inventory crisis has been overcome. Giant Group Chairman Young Liu spoke directly to Bike Europe about his plans for production in Europe and his focal points for his first year in this position.

FRANKFURT, Germany - DJI was one of the biggest newcomers on the e-bike market last year creating a lot of rumor during the tradeshows. What makes the e-bike market so interesting for this leading manufacturer of drones which generates a multi-billion revenue? The introduction into the e-bike market was put in the hands of drone pilot and DJI Product Experience Director Ferdinand Wolf.