Jan-Willem van Schaik

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - The distribution of e-bike and bicycles in Denmark has been hampered this year, like on all other European markets. Demand is strongly ongoing, but supply is very difficult. Whilst retailers complain about product availability, local production of e-bikes remains very limited.

TALLINN, Estonia - Direct to consumer seller and e-bike manufacturer Ampler Bikes has closed an equity round led by Taavet+Sten and a group of Estonian investors including Metaplanet, Ambient Sound Investments and Ragnar Sass. The total amount of the investment was €7.4 million.

IWATA, Japan - A total of €2.5 million will be invested by Yamaha Motor and Hero Motors to open a facility for the production of e-bike mid-motors. The two companies announced this after signing a joint venture agreement.

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - Accell Group has appointed Francesca Gamboni as Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) and member of the Board of Management. Following an extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders on December 15 she will start in her new position on 1 February 2022.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - In collaboration with a dedicated group of CEOs leading some of the largest multinationals in the cycling industry, Shift Cycling Culture has initiated the Climate Commitment. This is an urgent appeal to acknowledge the industry's responsibility in reaching the UN Paris Agreement target.

SEATTLE, US - The North American cycling market is supercharged with a $154 million (€132 million) investment for the e-bike company Rad Power Bikes. This is the second investment round within 10 months, Rad Power already raised $150 million (€128 million) last February.

MACHNACZ, Poland - The construction of the production facility of the Portuguese assembler RTE in Poland is nearing its completion. Based west of Warsaw, the factory is designed for an annual capacity of 500,000 units.

WALNOT (CA), USA - In the run up to the United Nation global climate conference COP26 in Glasgow which starts next Sunday, The Silicon Review named Yadea CEO JiaZhong Wang among the 30 most inspiring leaders this year. The company is said to power the 'Era of Green' with its revolutionary products, including e-bikes.

OSAKA, Japan - In its financial statement on the first nine months of 2021, the Shimano Group again reports a brisk sales increase of its bicycle component segment of 56%. From the same period in the previous year, bicycle component turnover jumped to JPY395,187 million (€3 billion), and operating income was up 103.4% to JPY113,719 million (€864 million).

WOUDENBERG, The Netherlands - Cannondale is currently at the forefront of the news, following the recent announcement of Pon Holdings' planned acquisition of Dorel Sports before the end of Q1 in 2022. Cannondale is adding to the excitement by announcing the opening of a new assembly sites in the Netherlands and the US.