Jo Beckendorff

STUTTGART, Germany - German Shimano distributor Paul Lange GmbH & Co. (PLG), a "leading importer and service partner" for Germany and seven other European countries, has absorbed Shimano Europe's custom bikewear brand Milremo. With this move, Paul Lange expands its portfolio "and reaffirms its commitment to providing customers with top-tier quality and comprehensive service in the future." No details were provided on the selling price.

SHIZUOKA, Japan - The situation for the Japanese bicycle industry becomes even more challenging now that sales and production numbers for 2024 have turned out to be lower again for the consecutive year. For the first time in decades, domestic production fell below the 700,000 unit mark. Import volumes saw single-digit growth, but remained below the 5 million unit mark.

SHIZUOKA, Japan - The launch of the MyCanyon custom-made programme to the Asian-Pacific countries and the simultaneous opening of a branch in the upcoming sports market in China, might make people almost forget that the D2C brand Canyon has been operating in Japan successfully for more than a decade. How did the German company manage to establish a D2C brand in a service-minded nation like Japan? Yukikaze Ishiyama, Canyon market manager Japan, explains to Bike Europe.

WEIDEN, Germany - The e-bike market expansion in the past decade came with a wave of new brands and suppliers. One of them was German MSA, mainly known as a long-time Kymco importer in Germany and the Czech Republic. Challenges in the motorbike and e-bike market have resulted in a reorganisation of the company including the withdrawal from the e-bike and bicycle market.

MUNICH, Germany - Despite a stagnating global economy, unresolved conflicts, and other geopolitical mood killers, the stock market boom continued, at least in the first quarter of 2025. Then came Trump trouble, with the US president instigating a global trade war. The tariff conflict is not only having an impact on the existing global economic order, but also on financial markets. The stock market went on a roller coaster. Investors are reacting to the unpredictability of the 'America First' prophet, which on a long-term could benefit Europe. In this context, here's an overview of how stock-listed bicycle industry companies fared in the first six months of 2025.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Stepping up investments in employees and production technologies, AD-II Engineering has announced the opening of an all-new factory. A five-story storage system will further streamline the production of Microshift drivetrain components. The company did not communicate an exact date for the start of production in the new facility.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - Taiwan's renowned bicycle frame builder Astro Tech Co., Ltd. celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its new production facility in Phu Chanh Industrial Park (north of Ho Chi Minh City) last Tuesday. Having produced for 24 years in Vietnam already, mass production in the new factory is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.

SCHRAMBERG, Germany - The financial results published by e-bike motor component manufacturer hGears are an important indicator of the market expectations of leading European e-bike brands. For the first quarter of 2025, hGears reports a 32.1% sales decline for its e-bike division. For the rest of 2025, hGears expects a further decline of the e-bike market.

MUNICH, Germany - The future of Gocycle has come into sharper focus following confirmation that its maker, Karbon Kinetics Ltd., has partnered with a new investor. Founder and designer Richard Thorpe first hinted at the development in November, describing the partner as a "highly respected and competent" player in the e-bike industry. Now operating under the umbrella of an undisclosed company, Gocycle is entering a new chapter - raising questions about who's behind the brand's next move and what this means for its presence in the European market.

SCHRAMBERG, Germany - Even though the weakening economy and the ongoing destocking in the 2024 financial year hurt the turnover and earnings of stock-listed high-precision gear parts and components manufacturer hGears AG, the company says the cost and structural measures introduced are having the desired effect. These have also prepared the company for another difficult year.