Rosie Burgin

ENNEPETAL, Germany - Alexander Thun has been appointed co-CEO of Thun, the traditional German manufacturer of bicycle parts. Together with his father Alfred Thun, who will continue to act as managing partner, Alexander Thun now shares the responsibility for all business units.

HERNE, Germany - Dutch E-bike specialist, Stella E-bikes, is continuing its European expansion with the opening of a new E-bike Test Center in Herne, Germany. Following the store in Nettetal, this will be the e-bike specialist's second branch in Germany.

MASSACHUSETTS, US - By aiming to transform bicycle-sharing systems into an on-demand mobility solution, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proposes that autonomous bicycles could serve as an alternative to current bike sharing models and solve problems such as over-quantification.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - A new information platform for the safe transportation, testing and packaging of battery cells, batteries, and vehicles and equipment containing batteries has been launched. BatteriesTransport.org is a joint industry initiative of eight industry associations for batteries and battery-powered products, including LEV trade association, LEVA-EU.

FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany - "Corona has been a spark for digitalisation," claimed Head of Eurobike, Stefan Reisinger at the opening of Eurobike's first digital days on September 1. He referred not only to the event being digital, but the fact that digitalisation is increasingly creeping into the whole bicycle industry chain.

BAD SODEN, Germany - Bicycles and e-bikes have become the mode of transport of the hour, defying the corona crisis, the German bicycle association, Zweirad-Industrie-Verband (ZIV) says. Figures they released today show a 15.8% increase in e-bike sales in Germany in the first half of 2020 and the association is optimistic about reaching 2019 sales levels by year end.

BEEK EN DONK, the Netherlands - Replacement parts wholesaler, Twindis, has made an exclusive collaboration deal with German battery manufacturer E-Bike Vision (EBV), a developer and producer of high-quality replacement batteries. Twindis will be the distribution partner for the Benelux.

BAUNACH, Germany - Messingschlager, the German-based importer of bicycle accessories, is strengthening its e-mobility business sector with the appointment of Christian Heymanns. The company is also integrating it's E-Mobility Service into the overall Messingschlager service.

NEW YORK, US - Bolt Bikes, the Australian mobility startup, has completed a Series A capital raise of US$11 million (€9.3 million) to invest in expanding its operations in the United States. Along with the capital raise, the e-bike sharing subscription service has announced that is rebranding with a new name, Zoomo.

DIEREN, the Netherlands - Gazelle is to build a new experience centre right next to its factory in Dieren, the Netherlands. A unique feature is that visitors can also follow the entire production process of the bicycles via a footbridge suspended in the factory hall.