Jan-Willem van Schaik

ZEIST, the Netherlands - Retail sales between January and March 2024 in the Netherlands partly recovered from the strong decline the market experienced in 2023. Turnover increased year-on-year by 5.2% in the first three months of 2024. In the same period last year, revenue was still down by 10% mainly as a result of the sales hike in 2022 shows the benchmark of H&L Accountancy and Tax.

SUZHOU, China - The official accreditation of the Bafang Laboratory Center by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) confirmed the successful creation of world-class professional testing laboratory for two-wheel drive systems. The component manufacturer is investing substantially to expand its market position. "The industry needs to regain confidence to restart the market again," Bafang President and CEO Qinghua Wang told Bike Europe on a recent visit.

FRANKFURT, Germany - Sharing know-how and best practices have become an important part of Eurobike. The annual industry get-together has become a global presentation of every aspect the bicycle and e-bike business has to offer. From 3-7 July 2024, industry experts will gather in Frankfurt for the flagship trade fair for bicycle and light electric mobility.

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, UK - Pashley Group Limited has announced the appointment of experienced and proven business leader Andy Smallwood to the role of chief executive officer (CEO), effective 3rd June 2024.

COLOGNE, Germany - The decline in bicycle and e-bike sales Germany experienced in 2023 was a one-off writes the Cologne based Institute for Retail Research IFH in their annual market study. According to IFH, the demand will increase moderately again in the future starting in 2024.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The recent CONEBI General Assembly was chaired by the industry confederation's new president and Atala CEO Massimo Panzeri. The event took place in place in Istanbul on 22 May 2024.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - Undeniably European e-bike sales took a step back last year. In 7 European countries which have already reported their market statistics for 2023, the total volume decreased by 8%, from 4,555,264 units in 2022 to 4,178713 last year.

ITTIGEN, Switzerland - Emma (Mason) Zwiebler has been appointed World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) chief executive officer from May 1, 2024. Her new position follows her term as interim CEO since November 1, 2023 since former CEO Robbert de Kock left the organisation.

WASHINGTON, USA - The latest publication by the US Trade Representative (USTR) regarding tariff action has not brought any clarification whether the import of lithium-ion batteries for e-bikes from China will be hit by a 25% additional duty. "Some ambiguity remains on what the announcement means for existing bicycle products receiving exclusions from Section 301 tariffs," writes PeopleForBikes, Policy Counsel Matt Moore in a statement today.

FERNDALE, Canada - Founders Dan Gerhard and Jake Heilbron have purchased Kona Bikes back from Kent Outdoors, along with a team of dedicated, experienced Kona employees. Kent Outdoors had been looking for a new owner for some time and handed over the company back to the former owners for an undisclosed amount.