Jan-Willem van Schaik

OSAKA, Japan - In its financial statement of the first quarter of 2020, the Shimano Group reported a downturn in sales since mid-March. The company also pulled its full-year business performance forecasts. The situation has changed drastically since last month. "Bicycle assemblers in Europe are seeing a surge in orders and retailers in the US are running out of stock," said Shimano's CEO, Yozo Shimano.

DOETINCHEM, the Netherlands - Up-to-date information on the latest market statistics has become essential to be successful in the e-bike and bicycle industry. To get all information on hand, Bike Europe has developed a new service to the industry; the market report updates.

SAALFELD, Germany - The opening of the Velosione frame production facility in Germany is an important step for production close to the market and a more flexible supply chain. Last week the company celebrated the commercial launch of its first injection-molded open-mold carbon city e-bike frame.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - Lightweight brandowner Carbovation GmbH has appointed Carsten Krumm as managing director. Krumm also participates in Carbovation GmbH next to the existing shareholders.

LONDON, UK - "The fascinating thing of an e-bike is that it radically changes the ethic of a bicycle," said Paul Lee, Global Head of Research for the technology, media and telecommunications industry at Deloitte. Last January this renowned consultancy firm published a study named 'Discover the Future' in which it presents detailed expectations for the new decade. In the midst of topics like 5G, robots and where the smartphone will take us; cycling is mentioned as the second subject.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - "The upcoming European Commission proposal for the Recovery Strategy will embed the main elements of the European Green Deal, building on smart and clean mobility, which is at the core of the bicycle industry," stated the European Commission DG for EU Market and Industry in a letter to the industry confederation CONEBI.

LELYSTAD, the Netherlands - In a joint project, Giant and ConnectBike developed a new e-bike for the food delivery market. The world's largest food delivery chain Domino's Pizza also partnered in the project. The Deliver-E+ is a heavy duty e-bike suitable for very frequent use at low maintenance costs and value depreciation.

COLOGNE, Germany - The opening of bicycle shops in Germany after the corona lock-down has resulted in a more than expected increase in sales. Particularly e-bikes are very popular now lock-down has ended as customer demand changes from leisure only to daily use. These initial results provoked ZEG CEO Georg Honkomp to state that, "if things go better again in the next few months, the 2020 sales decline as a result of corona will be limited."

BARRO, Portugal - The construction of an all new e-bike and bicycle facility will increase Incycles capacity to no less than 180,000 units. Last April, the company already opened an 13,000 square meter warehouse in the Portuguese city Barro.

ANNECY, France - The iconic brand Mavic has been in receivership since 2 May 2020. Nearly 10 months ago Mavic was officially sold by its parent company Amer Sports to the Californian private equity firm, Regent LP, for an undisclosed amount. However, the Mavic employees and the French unions now found out that another company is involved in the ownership.