Jo Beckendorff

OTTOBRUNN, Germany - With a brand relaunch, e-bike drivetrain maker Fazua GmbH is opening a new chapter to its newly launched 'Energy Bikes' umbrella. According to the German start-up, they want to set themselves apart from their competitors with the "natural support" offered by their Evation drivetrain system.

PONTEDERA, Italy - Italian two-wheeler supplier, Piaggio Group has joined forces with motorcycle and light electric vehicle (LEVs) giants Honda Motor Co, Yamaha Motor Co, and KTM, owned by Pierer Mobility and signed a letter of intent to set up a Swappable Batteries Consortium for motorcycles and LEVs. To enrich the expertise of the consortium, the founding quartet encourages all interested stakeholders to join the new cooperation.

FÜRTH, Germany - German Uvex Sports Group has acquired a majority stake in British Hiplok maker, Plus 8 Industries Limited. Uvex Sports Group will now add the Hiplok brand to its portfolio alongside its existing Alpina and Uvex brands, to "bundle competencies in the field of protective equipment and safety."

BOCHOLT, Germany - In the past weeks this trade journal reported about the enormous cost increases for the industry. It becomes unavoidable for bicycle and e-bike suppliers to add at least a part of those extra costs to their sales prices. Many direct sellers like international operating Rose Bikes

BERLIN, Germany - The e-bike market entrance of Brose came late, but not too late. As a well known and experienced supplier of electric motors for the automotive industry the company transformed their business to e-bikes as well. This March, the one millionth motor will leave the company's Berlin production facility.

MÜHLHAUSEN, Germany - Another German bike manufacturer has filed for insolvency and the search for investors is now in full swing. Despite gaining interest for its patent protected 'Cyfly' drivetrain, rising debts have sealed Möve Bikes fate. On February 5th, Marcello Di Stefano from Diligens Rechtsanwälte & Insolvenzverwalter GbR was appointed as provisional insolvency administrator.

ASSAMSTADT, Germany - Rechargeable battery experts, Ansmann, has announced changes in its supervisory and management board. The company which considers itself a market leader in the field of high-quality charging technology has appointed a 2nd generation family member as new chairwoman.

HAMBURG, Germany - Kim, Julian and Jacob von Hacht are entering Hamburg-based bicycle supplier, Stevens Vertriebs GmbH's management team in March. The three children of company founders Werner and Wolfgang von Hacht, represent the second generation of the German owner-managed family business.

SANGERHAUSEN, Germany - Troubled German bicycle producer, Sachsenring Bike Manufaktur, is out of insolvency having been bought by a group of unspecified investors. The newly founded Zweirad Union E-Mobility has taken over 75 of the employees and will "continue bicycle production at the old MIFA site in Sangerhausen."

MÜHLTAL, Germany - Premium e-bike supplier, Riese & Müller, is adding a new administration and production building to its 'green' state-of-the-art campus in Mühltal, Germany. Construction work for the new premises will begin in May 2021 and is scheduled for completion in July 2022.