Jan-Willem van Schaik

's-HEERENBERG, the Netherlands - Future ambitions and a focus on both sports bikes and urban mobility with their e-bikes made Specialized decide to look for a new location for its European shared service center in the Netherlands.

BUNNIK, the Netherlands - The e-bikes enjoys a rapidly rising popularity in many European markets, now many see it as the best alternative for public transport in urban areas. Even in mature markets like the Netherlands, e-bike sales continue to increase by double digits.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The new expert group of Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) has the ambition to become a unique think tank for cycling, attracting top strategic leaders and analysts from all sectors of cycling. The group will gather evidence and produce intelligence that will allow accurate market forecasting, stronger promotion of the industry, and better information for the industry as well as NGOs, policymakers and investors.

OSAKA, Japan - Shimano Inc.'s Chairman Emeritus and former Chairman Yoshizo Shimano has passed away. Yoshizo died of chronic heart failure at the age of 85 on July 3, 2020. This was announced this morning by Shimano Inc. in Japan.

BAD SODEN, Germany - Ernst Brust succeeds Siegfried Neuberger as the new managing director of the German industry association, ZIV. Ernst Brust is one of the most renowned and knowledgeable bicycle experts in Germany. He will start in his new position as of 1st July 2020.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - VanMoof's first television commercial has been banned from French TV because it is said to create a 'climate of fear'. In the commercial VanMoof reflects on the rat race of busy car traffic of the past and invites people to consider other urban transport modes for a sustainable future.

DOETINCHEM, The Netherlands - The next edition of Bike Europe magazine (number 4/2020) is now available to read online. The highlights include the report of booming online sales as a direct result of corona.

REUTLINGEN, Germany - The exceptional situation on the e-bike market with booming sales in many countries will impact the financial performance of Bosch eBike Systems. "We hope to match the impressive figures from last year, but we might even surpass them," said Bosch eBike Systems CEO Claus Fleischer yesterday at the online sneak preview of the model year 2021.

BUSNAGO, Italy - The introduction of FSA's e-bike drive system was one of the highlights at Eurobike last year. The company now announces the start of mass production in July. The first e-bikes specified with the FSA system will be in the shops early September.

DOETINCHEM, the Netherlands - Media reports on massive consumer demand for bicycles and e-bikes in combination with a rapidly number of orders gives the industry full confidence for the future. This is in full contrast with the outlook only a few months ago at the start of the corona lockdown.