Katie Sawyer

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Merida Industry Co., Ltd. reported an 8.5% year-on-year decline in consolidated revenue to NT$21.8 billion (€610 million) for the first three quarters of 2025, as weakening demand across Asia continues to weigh on the Taiwanese manufacturer's performance. Net profit for the parent company fell 18% to NT$1.44 billion (€39.5 million) during the same period, while earnings from associates, including Merida's stake in Specialized, contributed NT$511 million (€14 million).

HANGZHOU, China - Over one million dollars' worth of counterfeit bicycle goods have been seized by the Chinese government, in cooperation with American bicycle brand Specialized and e-commerce platform AliExpress. AliExpress announced this month that the sting operation, carried out in March 2025, resulted in the seizure of $1.1 million (€950,000) worth of counterfeit Specialized road racing frames, handlebars, wheels, seatposts, forks and 9,500 decals. Pinarello, Cannondale, Cervelo, and Trek also had fake items seized during the raid.

BAVARIA, Germany - Swiss speed-pedelec brand myStromer and German bicycle brand Cube have both issued voluntary recalls for their front forks on select models. The recalls being within days of each other seems coincidental, as the brands use different suppliers.

NÜRTINGEN, Germany — Bosch eBike Systems has acquired Magura's 50% stake in Magura Bosch Parks & Services GmbH (MBPS), taking full control of one of Europe's largest bicycle and e-bike service and spare parts distributors. Formerly equal service partners since the launch of Bosch's e-bike brand, the partners have not made it clear what prompted the buyout.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Olimpia Bicycle Ltd, the long-standing Hungarian producer behind the Gepida brand and recognised OEM supplier in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced it will cease operation. Partners were informed on 18 November that the company will enter liquidation and will not continue under a legal successor.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - With their signature wheels, baskets or colourways, fleets of public bike sharing systems have cropped up in bike racks around Europe in recent years. Their appearance has ruffled the feathers of traditional retailers and big bike brands. But their arrival may be more of a help than a hindrance to the bicycle industry, according to recent data.

SEATTLE, United States - A lithium-ion battery recall on nine models of Rad Power e-bikes might be the last straw for the American company, which filed a warning notice for insolvency just two weeks ago in early November.

WASHINGTON D.C., United States - A renewed tariff battle threatens to deepen the fault lines in the United States bicycle industry as US President Donald Trump's administration weighs expanding steel and aluminium tariffs to include bicycle parts. Kids' bike manufacturer Guardian Bikes is lobbying hard for inclusion, positioning tariffs as a pathway to US manufacturing. But US trade association PeopleForBikes argues the resulting shockwave would accelerate the string of bankruptcies already rattling the industry.

WATERLOO, United States - American bike manufacturer Trek has issued a massive recall and "cease ride" warning in North America, with over 75,000 bicycles affected. Additionally, a Trek spokesperson told Bike Europe that 2,196 bicycles delivered to European retailers have been affected. Executing the recall will place substantial financial pressure on the company's service and support network.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Benelux countries and the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) are joining forces with MyBike and other bicycle registration systems to tackle cross-border bicycle theft in a structural way. The partners presented a joint position paper in Brussels this November with concrete recommendations for a systematic European approach to organised bicycle theft, which often crosses borders.