Rosie Burgin

BRUSSELS, Belgium - E-bike brand Cowboy has officially been taken over by France's ReBirth Group Holding SA. The agreement signals a new phase for the Belgian brand, which will now fully lean on ReBirth's industrial and recapitalisation capabilities. The transaction includes a full financial restructuring with Cowboy's primary lender, providing a stronger balance sheet and a clean slate. Cowboy founder and CEO, Adrien Roose, has left the company.

VICENZA, Italy - A group of private strategic investors led by former Crankbrothers CEO Gaspare Licata has acquired a majority stake in Extreme Racing Shox (EXT), the Italian manufacturer of high-performance suspension systems for bicycle and motorsports applications. Under the new ownership structure, EXT plans to invest in new technologies and strengthen its distribution.

TALLINN, Estonia - Vok Bikes has secured a new production line at the Refactory plant of Renault Group to scale the manufacturing of its next-generation electric commercial cargo bikes. Starting in 2026, mass production of Vok Bikes will take place at the car maker's plant in Flins, France, which is its flagship circular economy and sustainable manufacturing hub.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Two names synonymous with bicycle industry advocacy in Europe are officially being retired as the merger between the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) reaches its conclusion. Marking a significant milestone for the European cycling ecosystem, the newly established European Cycling Industries (ECI) is now officially the unified voice of the cycling sector in Europe.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The Swiss brand, Viiala, entered the scene in September with the promise to disrupt the industry. Skip forward two months, and three concept models have been presented to a select group of 80 individuals, including suppliers, retailers and potential investors. Bike Europe was among the invitees to get a first glimpse of how the company is living up to that promise, during a grand unveiling in the Museum of the Future in Dubai's financial heart. The conclusion: the humble bicycle is no longer a simple mobility product.

REDDITCH, England - Following a post-covid glut, cycling is again the "stand-out performer" for Halfords. In the first six months of the financial year, the UK retailer reports a 9% year-on-year revenue growth for its cycling products and services. With a strong first half, the company is on track to deliver its full-year expectations.

ROTORUA, New Zealand - Bike Matrix, the New Zealand-based compatibility technology startup, has completed a 50-day A/B test with European online seller Bike24, to demonstrate the value of its data-based tool. Having previously tested on several smaller retailers, this was an initial test to see if the solution is ready for large-scale deployment. With a 69% increase in conversion rate, the test validated how data can set a new standard for online component sales by answering the customer's key question…

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The ongoing market and inventory issues have seen the total number of e-bikes imported into the European Union drop 13% in the first nine months of this year, compared to the same period last year. Eurostat's latest data also shows a 14% decline in value. Similarly to 2024, in Q3, China has taken the top spot from Taiwan as the leading EU e-bike supplier. But with a difference of just 341 units, there can be no talk of Chinese dominance in Europe - yet.

DRESDEN, Germany - E-commerce platform Bike24 Holding AG has continued its strong growth path in the third quarter of 2025. The company recorded revenue growth of 31.7% to €82.8 million in the reporting quarter. In the first nine months, revenue rose by 25.5% from €176 million in 2024 to €220.9 million this year. Significant growth was achieved in all European markets, driven by localisation strategy and a strong core market in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Giant Group recorded a 17% drop in consolidated revenue over the first nine months of this year, the latest figures released by the company's board of directors reveal. With a slow start to the year and a high-profile incident with the United States Government in late summer, the manufacturer reports a 24.9% decline year-over-year in Q3 revenue to NT$15.36 billion (€420 million). A small silver lining is the growth in e-bike sales and the recovering demand in Europe, particularly for its OEM business.