Jo Beckendorff

BEGUNJE, Slovenia - It currently produces ski's and sailing yachts but has been successful in bikes; Slovenian Elan d.o.o. As this company has been taken over by the owner of Bulgarian bike maker Leader 96 it raises the obvious question whether Elan bicycles will be brought back to life.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Fritz Jou Mfg. Co. Ltd was among the first overseas companies who announced to invest in a production facility in the Bike Value Portugal. Bike Europe had the opportunity to talk exclusively with Fritz Jou Mfg. Co, Ltd founder and President Fritz Jou about his European ambitions.

VIENNA, Austria - 2018 wasn't only a good year for bicycles in Germany, but also in neighboring Austria. The main trend here is the same as in many other European countries: e-bikes, e-bikes and e-bikes. Growing to a 33 percent market share (2017: 29 percent), Austria is now one of the biggest EU e-bike markets.

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria - With Pexco's brand Raymon as its newest customer, Bulgarian OEM maker Maxcom is gearing its bicycle and e-bike production to new highs. Right from the start of Pexco by (ex-Winora MD) Susanne Puello in August 2017 it was claimed that the production of the company's newly established brands - Husqvarna, Raymon and R2R - would mainly take place in Europe.

After announcing its intention to sell its bicycle business as part of its group portfolio, stock-listed Amer Sports Oyj has now entered into an exclusive agreement with global private equity firm Regent Equity Partners, LLC to sell Mavic S.A.S. The purchase price

WEIDEN, Germany - Motor Sport Accessoires GmbH (MSA) - longtime Kymco importer for Germany and Czech Republic and one of Europe's major importers of motorcycles and scooters as well as ATVs - is entering the European bicycle and e-bike market. For that the company targets its existing dealers in

BOLOGNA, Italy - At the 2018 Milan EICMA two-wheeler show on the booth of Italian motorbike legend Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. e-MTBs made a star appearance. They are named 'Ducati MIG-RR powered by Thok'.

TORRE DE ROVERI, Italy - Two Italian companies specializing in making machinery for production automation have joined forces. One of the two companies has a long history in the bicycle sector and was for instance closely involved in the set-up of robotized alloy frame production.

PLOCHINGEN, Germany - With a campaign in Germany for its road bikes, Decathlon is introducing two new brand names: Triban as well as Van Rysel. These two are not the only new names coming for the bikes retailed by the sporting goods giant. Next to the already longtime used B'Twin name there is more to come. M

ALBSTADT, Germany - E-bike drivetrain manufacturer Alber acquired a part of the electronics specialist and display supplier Bloks GmbH. Munich-based Bloks GmbH filed for insolvency last July. The administrator failed to find a new investor and Bloks was brought to bed at the end of 2018.