Jan-Willem van Schaik

ARNHEM, the Netherlands - The announcement last week that Specialized starts to offer online bicycle and e-bike sales and distribute directly to the consumer was to be expected. The question was: when will the American brand decide to launch this new service and why then? Koos de Boer, of Specialized Europe explains.

AMSTELVEEN, the Netherlands - The average retail price for e-bikes increased between 4% and 12.5% last year in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The annual GfK E-bike Monitor 2021 shows that a growing number of consumers are interested in buying more premium bikes.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The e-bike brand Cowboy has announced a €71 million Series C financing milestone. This new capital injection, bringing the total raised by Cowboy to €107 million, will provide the Belgian company the funds to focus on its 2022 growth themes: 'product design, on-demand services, fitness and customer delight.'

KARLSTEIN AM MAIN, Germany - BMZ Group, a global specialist in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, has opened its online store for e-bikes and e-bike accessories last week.

BAUNACH, Germany - Cycle Force Group, LLC has been acquired by Messingschlager GmbH & Co.KG. The sale closed on December 31st, 2021. "We are very excited to drive our international expansion in the world's most likely biggest growth market with our well known and trusted partner Cycle Force Group,"

ZEIST, the Netherlands - Together with Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium were always regarded as an example for the potential of speed pedelecs. Slow sales were manifest in 2020 and the trend continued into 2021. Together with Switzerland, the Benelux countries are still the main markets for speed pedelecs.

ZEIST, the Netherlands - The number of job vacancies for supply chain managers in the bicycle industry hiked last year. Previously, a dedicated position or even a department was only customary at big companies. That's no longer the case. In the bicycle industry the meaning of 'supply chain' has changed radically over the past two years.

立陶宛，凱代尼艾（KEDAINIAI）－Pon.Bike宣佈2024年於立陶宛Kėdainiai開設新廠的計畫。據Pon.Bike表示，全新工廠的年產量可達60萬輛，將會為多個品牌生產自行車。

美國，芝加哥（CHICAGO）－SRAM宣佈收購領先科技公司Hammerhead，他們同時也是Karoo 2自行車電腦的製造商。Hammerhead將加入SRAM的品牌系列，也會持續開發Karoo產品。該交易已於去年12月30日完成。

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Less than 7 weeks until the start of the 6th Copenhagen Bike Show, the organiser expects a successful event. "The Covid-19 situation is rapidly improving in Denmark which gives us confidence that it will be safe to visit the event," says show manager Christian Ritter.