Jo Beckendorff

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - What happened to the OEM-industry event Taichung Bike Week, which was announced for 22 to 25 September? Due to COVID-19 the organisers had already turned this important international industry meeting into a small national industry get-together. As Bike Europe found out from co-organiser Wheel Giant, this year's event was cancelled just before the opening. How and why you can find out here.

KUFSTEIN, Austria - Before Covid-19 hit the global market young e-mobility service company Greenstorm Mobility GmbH had been working on nothing but growth and expansion. The 2016 founded start-up has now hit the brake and will only focus on what they call essential business areas - meaning, "where experience has shown that it makes sense and above all stands for profit and liquidity".

SCHLITTERS, Austria - Nox Cycles, the sister brand of Hawk Bikes, was founded 16 years ago by the late Lorenz Hoser and his team in Berlin. Since 2017 the company has relied on its own close to the market e-bike production site in Austrian Ziller Valley. Now the activities of local Nox Cycles Austria GmbH, based in Zell am Ziller, will be significantly expanded.

KONSTANZ, Germany - D2C-supplier Canyon Bicycles GmbH ended the financial year 2019/2020 (September end) with a record sales turnover of €400 million, an increase of 30%. Company founder and CEO Roman Arnold believes that the time is now right to set the future course for further growth, including changes to top management and enticing new investment partners. 

HOYA, Germany - "With a total of 22 locations in Europe and 63 sales territories, Hermann Hartje KG is entering its 125th anniversary year in an extremely healthy manner, despite the fact that the celebrations unfortunately had to be cancelled," say Managing Director Hermann Hartje, while examining today's Hartje business. Despite the hurdles, the family-run business is moving steadily forward. Pre-orders for season 2021 have, for example, been "unexpectedly good".

ZIRNDORF, Germany - At Eurobike 2018 Metz made its debut in the e-bike industry as a supplier of mid-motor systems. The introduction of the high-quality, Made in Germany manufactured e-step scooter 'Moover' got even more attention. Both projects failed and Metz Mecatech GmbH applied for insolvency on 25 August.

DEL MAR/Ca., USA - With Uwe Kalliwoda, Benno Bikes founder and managing director Benno Baenziger has brought an experienced industry player into the team, who after an extensive career and two-year time-out, will become an actively involved partner and help the US brand realise its growth ambitions.

GRÄFELFING, Germany - With four new jobs in the field of e-mobility that have been created over the last few months, K.W. Hochschorner GmbH - founder and long-time supplier of e-bike components, as well as a specialist for training computers and navigation, Ciclo (formerly Ciclopsort) - is setting its future course.

IDSTEIN, Germany - Storck Bicycle GmbH celebrating its 25th anniversary this year took a new 50% shareholder on board. Company founder and managing director Markus Storck sold 25% of his shares to investor Stefan Lohwasser. He also acquired Decathlon's 25% share in Storck Bicycle.

REUTLINGEN, Germany - With its recent investment in charging infrastructure in the Swabian Alps, European e-bike-kit market leader, Bosch eBike Systems, has made it clear that in the long term, they also "want to improve charging options not only in holiday regions, but also in urban areas."