Jan-Willem van Schaik

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Chinese drivetrain component manufacturer WheelTop made the step to launch a MTB group set for the first time. The prototype set comprised a derailleur, two batteries, and wireless shifter.

MALLABIA, Spain - The long-term growth strategy is paying off very well for Orbea. In the past seven years, the cooperative bicycle manufacturer has confirmed notable sales growth which peaked in 2022.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Acer subsidiary MPS Energy Inc. launched a next generation drive system at Taipei Cycle Show this year. MPS Energy was established by Acer in July 2015 as part of its foray into the vehicle electricity and mobile power field, and has dedicated its resources to the development of BMS for smart cars with a focus on green and connected car technology.

BERLIN, Germany - Battery swapping system supplier Swobbee has raised another €2 million in an extended Series A round. Polish fund SpeedUp Energy Innovation and Dutch Stichting Clean Future Dividend Fund joined the group of earlier investors. The company aims to scale the solution in more European and non-European markets.

SCHIPHOL, the Netherlands - Initiated at the beginning of 2022, Yamaha's Switch On strategy represents the beginning of an all new era for the Japanese company in the design and production of the next generation of electric vehicles. The all new Booster Easy e-bike and Booster speed-pedelec will be available this spring.

ZEIST, the Netherlands - In a year the market was troubled by supply chain shortages, the bicycle import value saw a remarkable increase seldomly seen before. In 2022 the price per unit was pushed up even more and recorded a growth of 38.2%. These figures mark a turn-around of the market value which has seen a slow but steady decline since e-bike sales gained momentum.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Folding bikes specialist Ahooga raised multimillion funds to support the development and engineering of its next generation compact e-bikes. Ahooga also want to invest in production nearby its headoffice in Brussels, "to reduce dependency of external parties which can be cumbersome when supply chains get tight."

ZEIST, the Netherlands - The European bicycle market ended up in the inevitable correction phase after the corona related sales boom. It goes without saying that this situation was expected, the question was only, when? While 2022 sales are lower than 2021 throughout the Europe's main markets, the e-bike continues to drive the market. What's happening?

ENNEPETAL, Germany - Simon C. Smith joined Alfred Thun GmbH in the field of International Sales and Business Development. He will focus on international sales of existing and new drivetrain components for bicycles and e-bikes.

OSAKA, Japan - The forecasted slowdown in bicycle component sales for Shimano was less strong than expected. For the first quarter of 2023 the Japanese manufacturer reports a net sales decrease of 12.5% from the same period of the previous year to JPY 126,071 million (€ 856 million).