Jan-Willem van Schaik

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - The take-over of Accell Group by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP (KKR) and Teslin Alpine Acquisition has entered an all new phase now that Accell Group has provided more clarity on the acceptance of the order.

OSAKA, Japan - Economic sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations have created global energy shortages and a sudden rise in raw material prices, putting downward pressure on personal consumption, reports the Japanese components manufacturer in its Q1-2022 financial statement. Nevertheless demand for bicycles is still high according to Shimano.

SUZHOU, China - The severe spread and skyrocketing infection of COVID-19 figures in the Shanghai area, including Suzhou, has posed a major challenge for e-bike system manufacturer Bafang. Recent lockdown measures have escalated difficulties like raw material shortages, sluggish logistical efficiency, severe supply delays in Corona-related sealed-off areas and suspension or impediment of battery exports.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - High-level keynotes, CEO panels, business leaders, European policy makers and academics are on the line-up of this year's Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) Summit. During the event on 12 May, industry experts will debate current trends, innovations, leadership topics and visions for 2030.

FOSHAN, China - The home appliance giant Midea Group took over the e-bike drive system manufacturer Motinova. Midea Group, a well-known Fortune 500 company founded in 1968. Recently Midea announced a 11 billion yuan (€1.56 billion) investment schema to establish a new business for the production of parts for new energy vehicles. The take-over of Motinova is part of that strategy.

HARDERWIJK, the Netherlands - The formerly Scottish company announced the opening of its first e-service branch for the maintenance of electric vehicles in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Here, but also in other locations, e-bikes will now also be repaired according to the quick service model.

RIMINI, Italy - Since the first edition in 2018, the Italian Bike Festival in Rimini has become one of the trending events in the bicycle industry. From this year the festival at the Misano World Circuit will be connected to a series of other events like conferences, a granfondo and cycling tours.

VICENZA, Italy - For component manufacturer Campagnolo the market boom and supply chain constraints have triggered a renewed ambition to increase the global brand awareness and salience. For 2020-2022 the company reports the strongest sales growth since the 1980s giving the Italians confidence to dream bigger and expand significantly to capitalise on its recent growth.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - The recent announcement by Vietnam's government to drop COVID-19 restrictions including the opening of the borders for foreign visitors and lifting quarantine measures is expected to have a big impact on the bicycle industry.

MADRID, Spain - The hike in e-bike sales in 2020 was not a one-off as last year's sales record shows. According to the latest statistics published by the national bicycle industry organisation AMBE, e-bike sales volume increased by 5.3% in 2021.