Jan-Willem van Schaik

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - Micromobility.com is the first take-over candidate for VanMoof which comes forward in public. The American e-scooter and e-bike manufacturer published an announcement stating, "we submitted a non-binding bid to acquire VanMoof Amsterdam."

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - To offer more flexibility and to increase its service level to customers, saddle manufacturer DDK has announced the opening of a European factory in Romania.

OSAKA, Japan - Shimano regards 2023 as an "in-between year" as Marc van Rooij, President Shimano Europe Group already explained at Eurobike. This is reflected in the financial results for the first half of 2023. The Japanese manufacturer reports a net sales decrease in bicycle components of 17.7% to JPY 204,986 million (€1.3 billion) year-on-year, and operating income decreased 39.5% to 42,093 million yen (€270 million).

AGUEDA, Portugal - Ciclo Fapril is expanding its Alufap unit by another 12.000 square meters. Dedicated exclusively to the production of frames for cargo bikes, long-tails and carriers, the expansion is expected to be completed in April 2024 and fully operational within a year.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - 3D-print frames were regarded as the next step in mass production of high-end frames. In January 2021, the Silicon Valley-based company Arevo invested $19.5 million (€17.8 million) in a high-tech factory in Vietnam. This operation has been terminated.

VARSSEVELD, the Netherlands - Special needs bikes specialist Van Raam has entered into a strategic partnership with Munich based holding company Armira. "This partnership is a logical step to continue our growth strategy," says Van Raam Commercial Director Ronald Ruesink.

SEOUL, South Korea - HL Mando has introduced a high-performance battery, motor and rear wheel sensor system, to complete its alternator driven e-bike system. According to HL Mando the system is mainly engineered for eCargo applications.

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.