Jan-Willem van Schaik

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The follow-up of the chapter 11 status for VanMoof came much quicker than expected. On 17 July 2023, the court of Amsterdam withdrew the suspension of payment proceeding of the Dutch legal entities VanMoof Global Holding BV, VanMoof BV and VanMoof Global Support BV and declared these entities bankrupt.

SHANGHAI, China - E-bike drive system manufacturer Ananda is currently stepping up its activities in Europe which will result in the opening of a fully automatic production facility in Hungary. "We want to improve the supply chain with production in Europe," Ananda president Daniel Zhuo told Bike Europe.

BERLIN, Germany - The appointment of former Accell Group CEO Ton Anbeek to the board of directors will help Signa Sport United to elevate its online bicycle activities. At Accell Group, Anbeek helped to grow the company in Europe's e-bike industry and steered the company during the pandemic, cumulating in the sale of the business in a take-private transaction.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - VanMoof competitor Cowboy has released a free iOS app in which VanMoof users can store their digital bicycle key. "We wanted to get this shipped as quickly as possible because it will work while the VanMoof servers are live and we just don't know how long that will be," stated Cowboy Communications Director Amy Grimshaw.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The adoption process of the new European Batteries Regulation has entered its final stage. The approval stage has now been closed following the vote on Monday 10 July by the European Council.

CHICAGO, USA - After 14 years of growing and leading SRAM's global advocacy efforts across non-profit cycling organizations, grassroots groups, and industry players, Randy Neufeld, SRAM's Director of Advocacy, will retire full-time in August. This was announced today by SRAM.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The district court of Amsterdam has granted VanMoof Global Holding B.V. preliminary suspension of payment (chapter 11 status). It marks the end of many rumours about the financial stability of VanMoof.

SEATTLE, USA - In a publication on its website, Rad Power Bikes has announced it will pull out of the European market. The company wants to focus on its home market in North America, "in order to be competitive and successful in the long term."

BRUSSELS, Belgium - An agreement on the Critical Raw Materials Directive was reached by the EU Council recently. The Directive includes important changes to the recycling of permanent magnets and a new element has been added to the list of raw materials considered strategic.

DHAKA, Bangladesh - A slow-down in demand on the European market is mentioned as the main reason for the decrease in bicycle exports from Bangladesh. The outlook for the rest of the year is bleak as well thanks to a political decision to raise import tax on components.