Jo Beckendorff

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Inventory reductions in the European and North American markets as well as the higher year-on-year comparison base, have had a direct impact on Giant Group's first quarter sales. The Taiwanese company has reported a 9.6% sales drop in Q1.

SCHRAMBERG, Germany - According to precision gearbox manufacturer hGears AG, its first quarter 2023 results are in line with expectations. The strong performance of the premium, luxury and sports car segments was not able to compensate for the decline of the two other business segments e-mobility and e-tools - but at least cushioned it.

WINNENDEN, Germany - In response to market changes, German wholesaler and distributor WM Trading GmbH was transformed and sold off its trading business. Under the new label Velobyrd (by WM Trading) the company is now concentrating on R&D as well as frame and components production in Asia. At Eurobike several Velobyrd innovations will be introduced at the WM Trading booth.

DRESDEN, Germany - In its latest financial statement, online retailer Bike24 Holding AG speaks of a "persistently uncertain economic environment" which results in a year-on-year decline of its net sales by 10.5% to € 55.27 million in Q1-2023. In addition, increasing financing expenses exceeded € 10 million in the first three months of this year.

MUNICH, Germany - Bikesale Solutions GmbH, Germany's 'first professional online bicycle market-place for used bicycles' asked for insolvency on March 29th. The appointed administrator is now looking for an investor for the ailing bicycle refurbisher.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Due to the increased demand from its customers for e-cargobike chassis, frame builder A-Pro Tech Co. Ltd. has set up its own production line dedicated to cargobikes in Taiwan.

MUTLANGEN, Germany - The challenging market situation became too much for Advanced Sports GmbH. According to an announcement of the responsible district court Aalen in Germany, Advanced Sports GmbH filed for insolvency in self-administration as of 3 April 2023. The company is the European distributor for the bicycle brands Fuji, Breezer and SE Bikes and sells to more than 30 countries.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - At this year's Taipei Cycle Show bicycle chain specialist Taya China Co. Ltd. debuted a new bicycle chain brand, Zenas.

VIENNA, Austria - The Austrian bicycle market once again broke records in 2022. Both unit and value sales topped those in 2021, with the total sales value amounting to €1.39 billion. More importantly, e-bike sales alone cracked the €1 billion mark for the first time, accounting for 74% of the sales value.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - High-end frame builder Astro Tech isn't only investing in satellite production in Vietnam. At this year's Taipei Cycle Show Astro Tech Co. Ltd. general manager Samuel Hu confirmed to Bike Europe that his company is currently constructing a new building in Changhua, Taiwan. Here, mass production of carbon frames will take place alongside automated aluminium frame production.